Defending academic freedom

A chara, – Albert Einstein once said: “By academic freedom I understand the right to search for truth and to publish and teach…

A chara, – Albert Einstein once said: “By academic freedom I understand the right to search for truth and to publish and teach what one holds to be true”.

A large group of Irish academics tell us that their “right to permanency and tenure to retirement age is the bedrock on which academic freedom rests” (January 20th). I translate this sophistry as: “We wish to keep our jobs for life otherwise we lose academic freedom”. I’ll stick with Einstein’s opinion of academic freedom. – Is mise,

ALEX STAVELEY,

Turvey Walk,

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Donabate,

Co Dublin.