LINGUIST List 22.2717 Thu Jun 30 2011 FYI: Book Call: Academic Freedom in ELT Research Editor for this issue: Brent Miller <brentlinguistlist.org> To post to LINGUIST, use our convenient web form at http://linguistlist.org/LL/posttolinguist.cfm. Directory         1.     Damian Rivers , Book Call: Academic Freedom in ELT Research Message 1: Book Call: Academic Freedom in ELT Research Date: 30-Jun-2011 From: Damian Rivers <damian.riverslang.osaka-u.ac.jp> Subject: Book Call: Academic Freedom in ELT Research E-mail this message to a friend Editors: Damian J. Rivers Osaka University, Japan damian.riverslang.osaka-u.ac.jp Brian A. McMillan Hiroshima Bunkyo Women's University, Japan bmcmillanh-bunkyo.ac.jp Within the global field of English Language Teaching (ELT), a primary motivation for undertaking research is to improve language learning and teaching practices in order to maximize learner proficiency outcomes. However, teacher-researchers may feel significant pressure to avoid pursuing and publishing research which poses a challenge to long-established or commercially profitable practices (Teichler & Yağci, 2009). That is, when certain pedagogical practices are deemed by authorities to be exempt from criticism or above questioning, one can argue that a serious threat is posed to the development and transference of knowledge. In a general sense, academic freedom concerns the belief that freedom of inquiry for both students and teachers is an essential component in the social mission of higher education institutions as contributors to the public good. The general principles of academic freedom assert that university scholars should have freedom to undertake research and to teach or communicate ideas or facts, including those that are inconvenient to external political groups or to authorities, without being targeted for any kind of repressive action by their institution, unless their methods are found to be clearly incompetent or contrary to professional ethics by qualified bodies within their field of study (Karran, 2009). One of the most interesting aspects of academic freedom is that its application is often context-specific, reflective of wider social practices and official policies concerning domains such as human rights and freedom of speech—the core principles which underpin democratic societies around the world. Indeed, the wider social implications of academic freedom have been highlighted by John Dewey (1936): The social significance of academic freedom lies in the fact that without freedom of inquiry and freedom on the part of teachers and students to explore the forces at work in society… the habits of intelligent action that are necessary to the orderly development of society cannot be created. (p. 7) One of the most significant implications of viewing academic freedom as being ''inexorably linked to the formation of democratic values'' (Tierney & Lechuga, 2010, p. 118) is that institutions and individual institutional agents must demonstrate considerable restraint when deciding whether or not to intervene in an individual faculty member’s teaching and research agenda due to the wider socio-democratic principles threatened by any such intervention. The proposed volume seeks to document various cases within ELT research (across multiple contexts) in which academic freedom has been threatened or denied, to give voice to teacher-researchers who have thus been silenced and to draw attention to research which has been suppressed. In acknowledging that the denial of academic freedom may come in many subversive forms, the editors are keen for potential authors to explore specific cases from a variety of perspectives including (but not limited to) issues concerning democracy, the social function of education in theory and in practice, power relationships in the workplace, self-censorship, and the dynamics of workplace exclusion and bullying. In pursuing these dimensions, the editors welcome submissions from a variety of methodological standpoints. The editors are also keen to showcase ideas on how to protect freedom of inquiry and maintain research integrity within ELT research, even when findings reveal limitations or deficiencies in policies and practices which are promoted by those in positions of authority. Potential authors are invited to submit a 400-word proposal in English (including a few lines about the author(s)) to both editors by November 1st 2011. Publication of the volume will be sought with a major international publisher. Linguistic Field(s): Discipline of Linguistics Read more issues|LINGUIST home page|Top of issue Page Updated: 30-Jun-2011       About LINGUIST    |   Contact Us       While the LINGUIST List makes every effort to ensure the linguistic relevance of sites listed on its pages, it cannot vouch for their contents.