Updates from SLATE

Posted By: Anonymous User on 10/14/2010 12:44:31 PM

Intellectual freedom is challenged when students are (by the instructor's omission or commission) herded into corrals of pre-determined thought. Standardized testing and overarching mandates resulting in severe time constraints are largely responsible. Our school counteracts these challenges by providing formal and informal forums to allow our students to express themselves in a non threatening environment. Diane McManus

Posted By: Anonymous User on 4/16/2010 2:03:56 PM

At my school, intellectual freedom conflicts with student measurement directives that come from the superintendant's office. The classroom is being inundated by masses of testing data which teachers are instructed to use to inform differentiated instruction in the classroom. maryhealy

Posted By: Anonymous User on 12/17/2009 11:16:18 AM

I think that censorship issues need to consider that teachers are mandated to harm children through incessant testing and narrow curriculum. We are trying to get ACLU into such a discussion in order to honor teacher's knowledge and intellectual freedom. Should teachers be forced to use materials and tests that they believe harm their students. This is very important at the present time since materials and tests that having been problems under the Bush administration seem to be sanctioned again in the LEARN act that NCTE is supporting and urging NCTE members to support. NCTE has resolutions related to these issues. There must be discussion within NCTE about these issues. To me SLATE is a place where such a discussion should be led and opened up to NCTE membership. Yetta Goodman Regents Professor Emerita NCTE Past President