NCTE AFFILIATES CONFER 2006 INTELLECTUAL FREEDOM AWARDS

Established in 1975, SLATE (Support for the Learning and Teaching of English) seeks to influence public attitudes and policy decisions affecting the teaching of English language arts at local, state, and national levels and serves as NCTE’s intellectual freedom network. SLATE makes no policy of its own, but seeks to implement and publicize the policies adopted by NCTE.

The NCTE/SLATE Intellectual Freedom Awards have been in existence since 1997. The awards recognize individuals, groups, or institutions that have advanced the cause of intellectual freedom. These awards are given in two categories: (1) a national Intellectual Freedom Award http://www.ncte.org/groups/affiliates/awards/109295.htm and (2) state, regional, and provincial affiliate awards http://www.ncte.org/groups/affiliates/awards/109291.htm  Following are those recognized as 2006 NCTE/SLATE Affiliate Intellectual Freedom Award winners. These winners, in addition to being honored by their affiliates, will be honored at the NCTE Annual Convention in Nashville, Tennessee, at the Affiliate Roundtable Breakfast, November 19, 2006.

The Indiana Council of Teachers of English (ICTE) and NCTE recognize Sue Loughlin.  Sue Loughlin, education reporter for the Terre Haute Tribune Star, covers difficult education issues, from state standards to controversies about censorship and about administrative leadership in local public schools and universities.  Her balanced, fair coverage has been a source of community awareness for a score of years.  She has provided in-depth stories about student, staff, and faculty dissatisfaction with leadership at Rose Hulman Institute of Technology and Indiana State University. Her coverage of a book challenge to Brock Cole's The Goats spanned a period of eleven months and helped the community discover the motives of those who would censor books.

The Kentucky Council of Teachers of English/Language Arts (KCTE/LA) and NCTE recognize Al Cross. Al Cross’s support of journalism and students of journalism led him to leave a 26-year career with the Louisville Courier-Journal to take a position as Interim Director of the Institute for Rural Journalism and Community Issues in 2004.  In 2005 he was named Director of the Institute and Assistant Professor in the School of Journalism and Telecommunications at the University of Kentucky. In this dual position he calls himself "extension agent for rural journalism."

The Missouri Association of Teachers of English (MATE) and NCTE recognize the Blue Springs Board of Education.  The Blue Springs Board of Education is commended for the following actions amidst media coverage in the Kansas City Star and on local television, and much controversy in the community:  following its instructional materials reconsideration policy when Lois Lowry’s The Giver was challenged; accepting the reconsideration committee’s recommendation to retain the book; and unanimously voting to retain the book in the district curriculum and to support the district’s faculties in their selection of texts for the curriculum. The Blue Springs Board of Education will receive the 2006 NCTE/SLATE National Intellectual Freedom Award.

The Nebraska English Language Arts Council (NELAC) and NCTE recognize Susan Baird. Susan Baird has served as the voice for academic freedom in journalism and championed the cause for student voices.  She is a leader in student publications and has served students in journalistic education for many years.

The Ohio Council of Teachers of English Language Arts (OCTELA) and NCTE recognize Marcia Punsalan.  Marcia Punsalan successfully overcame challenges to her teaching of Kite Runner.  She also wrote a rationale for the book, developed a letter to parents outlining the reason for using the book in her classroom, and advised her entire department of the need and purpose for establishing rationales.

The Tennessee Council of Teachers of English (TCTE) and NCTE recognize members of the Williamson County School Board.  In January 2006 an anonymous letter appeared in the mailboxes of middle school parents in Brentwood, Tennessee, encouraging them to sign a petition to have Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird removed from all Williamson County schools. According to the letter, the book contains "profanity and adult themes such as sexual intercourse, rape, incest," and the book promotes "racial hatred, racial division, racial separation, and white supremacy."  In a courageous show of support for intellectual freedom, the Williamson County School Board voted unanimously at its February meeting to keep the book on the suggested reading list for Williamson County Schools.