Do you know what your free speech rights are, in and out of the classroom?

Teachers are increasingly facing discipline for voicing unpopular views both inside and outside the classroom. Many states have introduced legislation that seeks to control what perspectives on controversial issues may be presented to students in Social Studies courses. 

The program will introduce The National Coalition Against Censorship’s (NCAC) work in support of teachers’ right to free speech. The Coalition is committed to working closely with social studies educators to help them handle challenges to their academic freedom. 

During the web event, NCAC representatives will discuss how they assist teachers and will seek input from the NCSS membership as to free speech-related problems they encounter in their professional practice. On the basis of the information collected, NCAC plans to offer issue-oriented webinars and materials to social studies teachers. 

Please send any questions related to free speech and the social studies classroom to gordon@ncac.org. Emails will be held in anonymity by NCAC.

Presenter

Gordon Danning, J.D.
Consultant, National Coalition Against Censorship, Youth Free Expression Project

Gordon has a background in both law and K-12 education. He obtained a J.D. from the University of California, Berkeley but decided not to practice law. Instead, he taught Social Studies for many years at a public high school in Oakland, California. Immediately before coming to NCAC, Gordon served as the History Research Fellow at the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education, where he was tasked with researching the connection, if any, between “hate speech” and political violence. He has published several academic and law review articles on issues relating to free speech.