CSWE: Political Litmus Tests at Schools of Social Work
FIRE asked the federal Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to take action against political litmus tests in America's schools of social work. HHS requires its social workers to have degrees from programs accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), whose standards require evaluating students on the basis of their beliefs. FIRE urged HHS to end its relationship with CSWE unless CSWE drops its vague and politically loaded standards, a request echoed in similar letters sent by the National Association of Scholars and the American Council of Trustees and Alumni.
- "Joint Letter from FIRE, NAS and ACTA to Rear Admiral Denise Canton, March 14, 2007," March 14, 2007
- "FIRE Warns Department of Health and Human Services Against Supporting Political Litmus Tests on Campus," October 25, 2006: FIRE is asking the federal Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to take action against political litmus tests in America’s schools of social work. Currently, HHS requires its social workers to have degrees from programs accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), whose standards require evaluating students on the basis of their beliefs about “social and economic justice.” FIRE urged HHS to end its relationship with CSWE unless CSWE drops these vague and politically loaded standards, a request echoed by the National Association of Scholars and the American Council of Trustees and Alumni.
- "FIRE Letter to Admiral John Agwunobi, October 25, 2006," October 25, 2006
Case Materials
- "HHS challenged on social workers PC training,"
, United Press International, October 26, 2006 - "Social-work accreditor assailed in 3 letters to Health and Human Services Dept.,"
, Chronicle of Higher Education, October 25, 2006
