Times Higher Education: Language of power is focus in legal action over sackings
Three academics who were sacked by a Japanese university on charges of "academic harassment" have claimed that they were ousted for attempting to teach an indigenous language. The professors of educational linguistics, who have asked not to be named, are bringing legal action against Hokkaido University of Education after being fired by the institution in February. Academic harassment - a relatively new concept in Japan - is defined as the abuse of power of one's academic position. The university has accused the academics of "violating the human rights of the students under their supervision" by forcing them to work on an "extraordinary volume of assignments" for their own research purposes. As a result, nine students suffered physical or psychological problems including hallucinations, the institution claimed...The professors said that while it was true that some students made complaints, the university "exploited these complaints and fabricated a story about harassment". In a statement to Times Higher Education, they say the university accused them of "creating a cult group and engaging in mind control of the students"...After they were removed from their jobs, the Ainu language and culture classes they taught were scrapped, the professors say, adding that Japanese-Ainu dual-language signposts within the university have been taken down...Yoshiya Goto, the university's executive director [said] the professors had applied for an injunction against their dismissal at the Sapporo District Court, but their attempt had failed...more...