The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1956-10-12
Case of DR.. Myron L. Trip
By J. M. PETERSON, Poison


versity Professors on the dismissal
of Myron L. Trip from Rocky Noun
tain College. The findings of the
AAUP was published in the organi-
zation's Bulletin.
Briefly, the members who investi-
gated the case found that "the essen
tial fact-the termination of Pro-
fessor Tripp's services without due
notice in punishment for proper and
we'll conducted political activity-is
beyond successful challenge; and that
it was violation of the principles of
academic freedom and tenure en-
dorsed by the AAUP and other edu-
cational organizations, and generally
observed by administrators of ac-
credited institutions of higher educa-
ton" Summer Edition, AAUP Bull
LETIN, Goth and Hampton Streets,
Eaton, Pa.)
P. E. Lee of Helena (Sept. 14)
says the affairs of Rocky Mountain
College are not the affairs of the
VOICE; that there was no violation
of the "so-called'' academic freedom
in dismissing Professor Trip and
finally, he asks, what is this "prec-
ious" academic freedom.
The principles involved in this dis
missal are of concern to every one
who values our most cherished insti-
buttons. The case should not be
dropped here. No doubt neither the
VOICE nor Mr.. Lee will object to
more being said. l shall limit my
comments to the points raised by Mr..
Lee.
What is Academic Freedom?
Personally, I'd rather say what is
the right to teach?
We can't we'll answer that before
noting what real teaching is. True
teaching does not result from merely
being trained in how to teach. Except
for the rather immature mere train
ing in how to present subject matter
can seldom if ever make the real
teacher.
The real teacher is the person who
has studied, contemplated and de-
voutedly searched for the truth. That
come somewhat convinced of mans
relation to his Creator, to his fellow
men, why we are here, what our du-
ties and destiny is and whittier we
are going. Then it is that he must
teach, he must state his inner con-
victions, he must share his findings
with others.
1t is because the world has known
or at least vaguely sensed this truth
that we have put our stamp of APP
prevail on the right to think and to
teach. This approval goes back to
the Renaissance and even to the
days of Athens. 1t is because we
granted the academic freedom or the
right to teach that we have made
the great strides in social and eco
nomic progress. Had we refused this
right. we should still believe the earth
is flat, we should still believe in slav-
ery-for once churches defended that |
institution, and we should also be-
lieve in the "Divine Right of Kings,
in the sin involved in taking out an
insurance policy and in attempting to
fly. If folks were not permitted to
search, to question and teach, no
doubt Englishmen would still be be-
living with Bishop Usher that the
earth was formed on October 26 at
9 am. in the year 1904 BIC. and
hence that this old globe of ours will
be $500 years of age next October 26.
But someone fortunately discov-
cred that some old ideas were wrong |
and took the liberty or were given
it to teach something else.
So we value the right to teach.
We now sense its value as people |
always have.
Academic freedom, then is the |
right to be ones self, to make known !
the result of ones contemplation and !
searching, that it is the freedom to
speak of that which overflows. 1t is
the most important of all the free
doms; it is the freedom without which
we can't have the other freedoms or
without which they would be worth
but little.
rrbo o++aoly on +bic frendOno is l1SII-