THE TEACHER

Reflections on the 'Berufsverbot' for Michael Csaszkoczy

The teacher is fundamental to the creation and maintenance of a free and democratic society. Among his tools are critical thought, inquiry, and open exchange of ideas. His instruments of change are the learning students and his masterpiece becomes the generations he guides to responsible maturity.

For the teacher to achieve the very best results with our children, he must work his magic in an environment that supports free speech, encourages academic freedom and celebrates controversy. In this environment, the teacher must be able to hold and express opinions, to participate in political activities outside school without fear of retaliation and retribution. The teacher must be free to pursue and promote intelligent study based on a wide spectrum of thought, experience and ideas, inclusive of many viewpoints. Finally, the teacher must embrace an accountability that demands balance when those viewpoints are introduced to students, particularly younger students.

As citizens and parents, to set an example for our children, we must ensure that the teacher has the proper environment; we must encourage new ideas and diversity and we must require a healthy balance in the presentation of those ideas. It is in our best interests, our children’s best interests, society’s best interests to see that students have the opportunity to develop their powers of discovery, perception, understanding and judgment under the guidance of the teacher committed to free and open inquiry.

Traditional academic freedom ---the child of free speech--- was born in Germany around 1850. It is painful when such a worthy tradition is tarnished.

Patricia Skopp, Portland 9/10/2004

"Free speech is the whole thing, the whole ball game. Free speech is life itself." Salman Rushdie