VITTA > About > Position Statements > Free

Join

Knowledge > Position Statements > Free

Free Speech Online - November 2007

Background

An open and democratic society values the freedom of speech and expression. Technologies such as printing, the Internet and Web2 have been followed by restrictive legislation to control and regulate the flow of information. Some organisations have reported that free speech online is under threat.

 Broken wire, glass and rust

 

 

 

 

 

 

Introduction

VITTA is committed to the view that an open and public debate about all aspects of the educational system will to help us best accomplish our goals of reflecting and improving educational practices and sharing IT information.

VITTA values the right of free speech for all teachers and that to best demonstrate this, it is necessary for us to engage in free, open and public debate about our profession, ICT policy and practice. We affirm that education is directed to the full development of the human personality and to the strengthening of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms.(1)

Definitions

  • ICT: Information and Communication Technology
  • IT: Information Technology

VITTA believes that:

Teachers should be able to freely engage in a public debate, reflect and debate about aspects of their teaching, learning and profession, on any aspect that may impact on student learning or teaching practice. This may include online debates that are critical of our current activities, access and freedom to use online publishing tools and meeting forums, rethinking education and exploring possibilities.

Whilst, is not intended that this any action by a teacher might disrupt the operations of a school system or infringe upon the legal obligations of members, we recognize that it is important that this debate and criticism must at times be undertaken in a free, open and public forum with activities and places and contemporary communication tools and public meeting places (mailing lists, chat rooms, weblogs, wikis ..) Nothing is impossible as we redefine our future.

"The best antidote for poor dialog and debate is -- more and better dialog and debate."

Rationale

A 2007 directive to an Information Technology teacher to remove all examination critiques and support material published on the Internet caused considerable angst, discussion and distress amongst IT teachers on a mailing list. Many expressed concerns about the online restriction to their free expression.

A survey of VITTA members and research to date indicates that when teachers have the opportunity and choice to engage in online forums and contribute to wider discussions, this can have a have a significant positive impact on their teaching practice. (3)

VITTA recommends that:

  1. Teachers annually review their ICT competencies to make best use of new technologies that could facilitate working together online using a range of contemporary and new communication and publishing tools.
  2. Schools support the professional development for teachers that wish to learn how to learn how to use new tools that are part of the new Web2 environment.

 

VITTA resolves to:

Promote and support the freedom of all IT teachers to engage together professionally for all the levels of schooling by :

  • the establishment of face-to-face and electronic forums for teachers to meet and discuss policy, teaching practice and their profession.
  • Conducting professional development programs that to help teachers use new tools that are part of Web2 technologies.
  • Providing print and online opportunities for teachers to freely publish and share their work.

References

(1) Princeton Survey Research Associates “White Paper - Education, Innovation & The Internet: Nobel Laureates Look To The Future” (2001) CISCO Systems http://www.cisco.com/nobel/survey/docs/whitepaper.pdf (downloaded 21/11/2003)

(2) Universal Declaration of Human Rights
http://www.amnestyorlando.org/UDHR.shtml

(3) BizReport “Amnesty International Warns Free Speech Online Is Under Threat” Oct 2006
http://www.bizreport.com/2006/10/amnesty_international_warns_free_speech...

Revised with the assistance of Roland Gesthuizen
Authorised by the VITTA State Committeeof Management
Date of Issue: February 2007
To be reviewed: February 2009