A history and analysis of United States Supreme Court decisions involving loyalty oaths and academic freedom

Academic freedom has long been a concept that has had a general definition, but in need of a specific understanding. This researcher looked to define the concept of academic freedom in terms of its historical background, but more specifically in its legal history in terms of United States Supreme Court and Appeals Court cases. After all, the legal definition becomes the actual definition.;The research begins with the history of the German beginnings of academic freedom and a discussion of how the meaning included both a student and professorial implication. The concept of academic freedom as it developed in other European countries is also discussed.;The research moves to the United States and the first court cases that included statements that academic freedom was to be a "special" part of the First Amendment right of free speech or expression. The first cases involved the professor's speech. Later, institutional academic freedom became a priority, sometimes seeming to obscure personal freedom.;Where is academic freedom today? How have previous cases changed our concepts and altered our definitions? The researcher analyzes relevant United States Supreme Court cases in an effort to find answers to the questions. The research concludes with recommendations for both administrators and teachers.