ACADEMIC FREEDOM

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXIX, Issue 13325, 30 April 1941, Page 8

ACADEMIC FREEDOM

DISCUSSED AT COLLEGE COUNCIL MEETING

FIRM RESOLUTION ADOPTED

Wellington, April 29

The question of academic freedom was discussed by members of the "Victoria University College Council when the following resolution was adopted: "All academic freedom implies responsibilities, and as the college council decides that the actions of a university teacher indicate that he is unsuitable for his office because of his failure to appreciate these responsibilities, it has the right to terminate his appointment." The discussion was the outcome of a series of events which followed the dismissal of a W.E.A. tutor in July last year, because he was alleged to have written a pamphlet at , the beginning of the wai- containing statements which members considered subversive. After the man's dismissal the District Committee on Adult. Education, asked the council for a ruling as to what a tutor was entitled to say or not say. The council's decision," made in February, was as follows:—"The appointment .of a tutor, is subject to hisservices being dispensed with on being given the notice provided for in his contract of service or on his receiving payment in lieu of' such notice. It is impossible and it is not desirable to attempt to specify what a tutor can or cannot do with regard to the free expression of opinion within the law. The tutors are adult educated people and it must be left to them to use their own judgment when they are about to give an expression of opinion, as to whether such expression is likely to lead the council to the conclusion that they are not' fit and proper persons to continue in the council's employ- j ment." Motion to Rescind At the meeting just held, Mr Justice Smith sought to rescind this and substitute a motion which the Auckland University College passed in 1934, and one which Mr Justice Smith said had gained the commendation of eminent education authorities overseas, including Lord Rutherford. This was as follows:

"(a) The university teacher has no less privilege of free speech within the law' than any other citizen excepting that there is a spe r cial responsibility on him to weigh hfs public utterances; but it must also be recognised that his position in the community may sometimes seem to him to involve, a special obligation to speak and, indeed to make a pronouncement not in accordance with the opinion and traditions of the majority of citizens. "(b) The exercise of this freedom as denned in clause (a) and, indeed the obligation to speak should hot place in jeopardy a university teacher's tenure of his post or make him subject to supervision or correction by the governing authority." The motion finally carried was moved by Professor Miles as an amendment to Mr Justice Smith's proposal.