The British Minister for Universities and Science Jo Johnson held yesterday, 26 December 2017, a remarkable speech titled “Free speech in the liberal university”.
Contents
- Intro
- From the Speech
- Media Coverage of the Speech
- The British Discussion
- And Don't Miss: Boris, Kick Out the Romans for Good!
Intro
Before this speech was the only possibility that the Academic cult is the main protector of Real Education, Real Science and Real Democracy.
After this speech it is impossible for the Academic cult to depend on the earlier hollow propaganda.
From now on is possible, or at least more possible, to openly explore HOW and WHY the Academic cult promotes a Culture of Silence (as they need to hide and protect their mystical foundations).
Furthermore this speech was the latest official manifestation of the perspective for a new organisation that will supervise the universities called the Office for Students.
United Kingdom is simply the leading nation in the efforts to achieve real Knowledge and real Democracy. Macron and Merkel, beat the Brits by to officially dissolve the Academic cult at once!
Or like this. The Office for Students is a clear result of Brexit and the stupid dream to re-establish the Roman Empire by the stupid ideals of Platonism and to Worship the Emperor.
From the Speech
Original text: Free speech in the liberal university, A speech by Jo Johnson at the Limmud Conference, Birmingham, GOV.UK, 26 December 2017
Under the headline Threats to freedom of speech.
A particularly worrying challenge to universities as bastions of liberalism comes from the threat to legal free speech and to open debate on our campuses.
Our universities, rather like the Festival we are today, should be places that open minds not close them, where ideas can be freely challenged and prejudices exposed.
But in universities in America and increasingly in the United Kingdom, there are countervailing forces of censorship, where groups have sought to stifle those who do not agree with them in every way under the banner of “safe spaces” or “no-platforming”.
However well-intentioned, the proliferation of such safe spaces, the rise of no-platforming, the removal of ‘offensive’ books from libraries and the drawing up of ever more extensive lists of banned “trigger” words are undermining the principle of free speech in our universities.
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Indeed, in 1673 Spinoza refused a prestigious appointment as professor of philosophy at the University of Heidelberg, because the job offer came with a restriction on what he could say - a stipulation that he must “not insult the principles of the established religion”.
That’s why the government is taking action now.
As part of our reforms to higher education, we have set up a new regulator, the Office for Students (OfS), which, as its name suggests, will regulate the university sector in a way that puts the interests of students first.
Created by the Higher Education & Research Act 2017, Original text at legislation.gov.uk, Wikipedia, the OfS will come into being next week.
Promoting freedom of speech within the law will be at the heart of its approach to the regulation of our higher education system.
The OfS will go further than its predecessor in promoting freedom of speech.
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Whether it’s Gallileo’s heretical rejection of geocentrism, Darwin’s godless theory of creation or the bravery of dissidents resisting oppression all over the world, history shows the right to disagree is the cornerstone of intellectual and political freedom.
I am pleased to say that this freedom is as important to the OfS’s new chairman, Sir Michael Barber, as it is to me.Wrong in the original text, correct is probably Universities must be places of intellectual discomfort, Times Higher Education, 23 November 2017.
In a recent article entitled“In Defence of Uncomfortable”
arguing that universities need to foster a climate of open inquiry in order to provide a truly valuable education, Michael pointed out that “Diversity of view and disagreement, is a vital ingredient of places of higher learning”.
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And I want to be clear about this: attempts to silence opinions that one disagrees with have no place in the English university system. Academics and students alike must not allow a culture to take hold where silence is preferable to a dissenting voice.
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But there is much more to do.
Universities cannot afford to be complacent about complying either with their duties to protect freedom of speech, or anything less than vigilant against hate speech (or other unlawful activity) masquerading as the exercise of the right to freedom of speech.
Both duties are vitally important to a civilised democratic society.
Media Coverage of the Speech
Short Video, Don’t shield students from opinions they don’t agree with, universities minister Jo Johnson warns, Camilla Turner, The Telegraph, 26 December 2017.
Universities will be less able to make scientific breakthroughs if they do not tackle 'safe space' culture, minister warns, Camilla Turner, The Telegraph, 26 December 2017.
Jo Johnson to tell universities to stop 'no-platforming' speakers, Rajeev Syal and Rowena Mason, The Guardian, 26 December 2017.
Universities should promote independent thought and free speech, but also ensure the debate is respectful, Editorial, The Independent, 26 December 2017.
Universities must be places that 'open minds, not close them', Jo Johnson warns, Ashley Cowburn, The Independent, 26 December 2017.
The British Discussion
Some links that highlight the British discussion.
Free Speech University Rankings 2017, The crisis of free speech on campus, Spiked, Tom Slater coordinator.
... Our survey, ranking 115 UK universities using our traffic-light system, shows that 63.5 per cent of universities now actively censor speech, and 30.5 per cent stifle speech through excessive regulation. This marks a steady rise in censorship over the past three years. Now only six per cent of UK universities are truly free, open places. ...See also their page Media Coverage.
Some of the background: Students should be made to feel 'uncomfortable' so they can learn, chair of the Office for Students says, Camilla Turner, The Telegraph, 23 November 2017.
Earlier this month, Oxford University's chancellor said that “safe spaces and no-platforming policies at universities are "fundamentally offensive".Freedom of speech, censorship and bias – interesting times in HE (Higher Education), Jane Forster, The Lighthouse Policy Group, 27 October 2017.
The Lighthouse Policy Group is an informal and independent network to support those who work in the role of Executive Officer / Policy Adviser or similar to a Vice-Chancellor.
And Don't Miss: Boris, Kick Out the Romans for Good!
My post: Boris, Kick Out the Romans for Good! – An Open Letter To Boris Johnson, 21 December 2016.
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