Stanford University: Education Program Tries to Keep Outspoken Student from Enrolling, Demands Access to Private Blog
Stanford University’s Teacher Education Program (STEP) has finally let dissenting student-blogger Michele Kerr graduate. When Stanford tried to revoke Kerr’s admission after she voiced disagreement with “progressive” views held by STEP administrators, Kerr turned to the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE) for help. Kerr sought FIRE’s aid a second time after Stanford School of Education administrators demanded the password to her private blog and threatened to expel her for her opinions and teaching philosophy. The shameful story of Kerr’s travails was featured online in The Washington Post by education columnist Jay Mathews.
- "Victory for Freedom of Speech at Stanford: Student Graduates Despite Ed School Efforts to Revoke Admission, Investigate Private Blog, and Declare Student Unfit for Teaching," July 24, 2009: Stanford University’s Teacher Education Program (STEP) has finally let dissenting student-blogger Michele Kerr graduate. When Stanford tried to revoke Kerr’s admission after she voiced disagreement with “progressive” views held by STEP administrators, Kerr turned to the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE) for help. Kerr sought FIRE’s aid a second time after Stanford School of Education administrators demanded the password to her private blog and threatened to expel her for her opinions and teaching philosophy. The shameful story of Kerr’s travails is featured online in The Washington Post today by education columnist Jay Mathews.
- "Second Letter to FIRE from Stanford University Senior University Counsel Lauren K. Schoenthaler," February 4, 2009
- "FIRE Second Letter to Stanford University President John L Hennessy," January 26, 2009
- "Non Academic Grievance," January 20, 2009
- "Academic Grievance," January 10, 2009
- "Callan-Lotan Letter to Kerr, December 16, 2008," December 16, 2008
- "Kerr e-mail to STEP students, December 2008," December 11, 2008
- "Letter from STEP Director Rachel Lotan, November 24, 2008," November 24, 2008
- "Letter to FIRE from Stanford University Senior University Counsel Lauren K. Schoenthaler," June 5, 2008
- "FIRE Letter to Stanford University President John L. Hennessy," May 23, 2008
Case Materials
- "Adam Takes on Stanford School of Education in ‘Examiner’ Newspapers as Notoriety Surrounding Case Spreads Through Media," by Peter Bonilla, July 29, 2009: In an opinion column carried today by both the San Francisco Examiner and the Washington Examiner, FIRE's Adam Kissel sounds off on the Stanford University School of Education's bullying and intimidation of former student Michele Kerr, who graduated from Stanford's Teacher Education Program (STEP) in June. As Adam describes, Kerr was repeatedly targeted for punishment and censorship because her views on teacher education did not fit with the "progressive" ethos of the School of Education. Not only did the school attempt to revoke her admission and police her private blog, but it took its concerns directly to the high school to which she was assigned, which may have factored into the new principal's decision not to hire her despite strong reviews from faculty. (Kerr has since found other employment.) Adam concludes, "The lesson for aspiring teachers who have doubts about the latest trends in education schools is that you can fight and win, but don't expect many favors."
- "Greg in ‘Huffington Post’ on Stanford Blogger Case," by Claire Jenkins, July 27, 2009
- "Victory for Freedom of Speech at Stanford: Student Graduates Despite Ed School Efforts to Revoke Admission, Investigate Private Blog, and Declare Student Unfit for Teaching," by Adam Kissel, July 24, 2009
Blog Entries
- "Stanford University punishes dissent when training teachers,"
by Adam Kissel, The Examiner, July 29, 2009 - "Washington Post: Stanford Ed School Hounds Blogger,"
by Greg Lukianoff, The Huffington Post, July 24, 2009 - "They Messed With the Wrong Blogger,"
by Jay Mathews, The Washington Post, July 24, 2009
