ABSTRACT
A number of academic freedom cases of the period signaled a significant negative reaction to new curricular approaches and had a chilling effect on attempts at reform. The period of controversy was followed by four lawsuits on behalf of teachers, parents, and students, and the Indiana State Teachers’ Association filed suit on behalf of two teachers who had been dismissed. The Indiana Civil Liberties Union filed suit on behalf of students, alleging that the board’s actions had violated students’ “right to know” and “right to read.” Censorship pressures came from a number of sources, played a role in most of the cases, and contributed to the national climate. The author of the study found that the patriotic and conservative groups were most militant, best coordinated, and financed. Centrist conservatives posited three overarching missions for the schools: promoting economic development for the nation; preserving a common culture; and promotion of educational equity through color-blind access and improving quality.
