Responses

The two components of academic freedom are inseparable. The opportunities provided by the campus and the larger community influence freedom to learn. Also, it depends on classroom conditions. Therefore, students should responsibly enjoy their freedom in the classroom. The professor should foster free expression and discussion academically. It also protects students from the improper academic evaluation. Over the years, the concept has gained recognition; for example, in Sweezy v. New Hampshire, it provides the freedom to inquire, test, and understand for teachers and students (Kaplin & Lee, 2009).

The legal standards of students' academic freedom are vague and hard to define for several reasons. First, some scholars argue that students' academic freedom is not part of the First Amendment principles because the term should be for people with the necessary rights to preserve the university's functioning in relation to learning (Kaplin & Lee, 2009). The court identifies the academic freedom of students as a First Amendment right through reasoning and language that appear to support this statement. For example, in Rosenberger v. Rector & Visitors of the University of Virginia, the court ruling emphasized that the First Amendment rights are applicable for students in an academic context (Kaplin & Lee, 2009). Students can be entitled to contractual rights which contain academic freedom provision.

References

Kaplin, W. A., & Lee, B. A. (2009). A legal guide for student affairs professionals. John Wiley & Sons.