“speech codes: Regulations adopted on many college campuses that prohibit certain kinds of speech deemed offensive by various groups—for example jokes that make fun of women, blacks, Hispanics, or individuals with disabilities. Advocates of speech codes claim that they are necessary to protect campus civility and to eliminate verbal harassment. Critics claim that they stifle freedom of speech and violate Constitutional protections. In public higher education, speech codes have been largely eliminated by litigation, but many private universities continue to enforce them.”
Excerpted from: Ravitch, Diane. EdSpeak: A Glossary of Education Terms, Phrases, Buzzwords, and Jargon. Alexandria, VA: ASCD, 2007.
