Introduction
Although a poll found that 94 percent of Americans view the First Amendment as “vital” to democracy, free speech is under attack at an “unprecedented” level, according to the American Library Association. The attacks are coming from both the right and the left and are challenging books and curricula in classrooms and libraries at all levels, from pre-K through graduate school, according to free speech advocates. Since the beginning of 2021, lawmakers in 40 states have introduced some 175 bills to restrict teachers’ speech, 15 of which became law. And last year, there were 729 demands to remove a total of 1,597 books from libraries and schools, nearly double the challenges in 2019. Controversial speakers have been disinvited from colleges, and many students say peer pressure causes them to hide their opinions. Some educators blame the disputes on political polarization, conservatives’ unhappiness about changes in teaching and administrators’ fear of conflict — all of it exacerbated by social media. Free-speech advocates — from national organizations to local groups — are fighting back.
A crowd gathers at a school board hearing last November in Spotsylvania County, Va., to discuss a proposal to pull “sexually explicit” books from school libraries. Efforts to ban certain books, prohibit the teaching of some topics or bar controversial speakers from college campuses are on the rise across the country. (AP Photo/The Free Lance-Star/Peter Cihelka)
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Colleges and Universities |
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May 20, 2022 |
Free Speech on Campus |
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Dec. 04, 2020 |
Graduates' Prospects |
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Sep. 11, 2020 |
Higher Education in the COVID Era |
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Oct. 26, 2018 |
Issues in Higher Education |
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Nov. 20, 2015 |
Greek Life on Campus |
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May 08, 2015 |
Free Speech on Campus |
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Jan. 02, 2015 |
College Rankings |
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Jan. 18, 2013 |
Future of Public Universities |
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Feb. 04, 2011 |
Crime on Campus |
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Jan. 07, 2011 |
Career Colleges |
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Apr. 21, 2000 |
Community Colleges |
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Feb. 16, 1996 |
Academic Politics |
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Jan. 05, 1990 |
What Should College Students Be Taught? |
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Jul. 27, 1984 |
Colleges in the 1980s |
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Jan. 23, 1981 |
Plight of America's Black Colleges |
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Apr. 11, 1980 |
College Admissions |
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Sep. 06, 1974 |
College Recruiting |
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Mar. 01, 1974 |
Academic Tenure |
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Sep. 14, 1966 |
Graduate School Crush |
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