Traces institutional responses to the challenges posed by conservative religious groups to public school education in California. The experience of California illustrates the importance for educators of assuring that all citizens understand the First Amendment and its implications for the conduct of public education. (SLD)

Lists helpful web sites for First Amendment research in an annotated format. (TB)

Discusses U.S. student rights under the First Amendment, explaining that many teachers lack understanding of the First Amendment, and many schools isolate civics to the classroom and do not practice what they teach. The First Amendment Schools Project seeks to develop schools that model and teach the rights and responsibilities undergirding the…

The central federal question surrounding vouchers is whether participation of sectarian schools violates the First Amendment's Establishment clause. The U.S. Supreme Court, through its interpretation of the federal Constitution, may have the final word in determining voucher proposals' future. Litigation in Cleveland, Milwaukee, Vermont, and Maine…

A court-approved Milwaukee voucher program permits up to 15% of the city's public schoolchildren to attend private/religious schools at state expense. This represents no victory for vouchers. Although the Wisconsin Supreme Court found vouchers constitutional, it may not believe they are valid under the federal constitution. (MLH)

Intended to make the First Amendment relevant to young people by addressing issues that speak directly to their lives, this guide assists teachers in using "Talk about Freedom," a series of eight educational print advertisements (ads) for teenagers, in the classroom. The eight print ads presented in the guide address: (1) censorship of…

The resolution of free speech issues in the public school context has, until recently, involved a precarious balancing between the First Amendment rights of students and teachers and the role of public schools in inculcating students with fundamental values. This year, in "Hazelwood School District v. Kuhlmeier," the Supreme Court struck…

Demonstrates that the parameters of teachers' classroom expression protected by the First Amendment is dependent on evaluating the expression in terms of both traditional requirements for First Amendment protection and compatibility with constitutionally valid educational purposes. Examines factors to be considered in constructing limits on…

This paper examines the censorship of school library books and school textbooks in American public schools, with particular emphasis on recent court cases. The 1982 Supreme Court case, Island Trees Union Free School District versus Pico, is examined in detail, and it is argued that Justice Brennan established precedent for a "right to…

Recent Tennessee and Alabama court decisions raise similar issues involving (1) fundamental rights protected by the First Amendment and (2) the process of public education. Outlines the effects these decisions have on teachers and in classrooms. The supporters would suppress critical thinking and imagination while opponents would promote critical…

Reprints the complete text of the January 13, 1988 United States Supreme Court decision on Hazelwood School District versus Kuhlmeier, which concerns educators' editorial control over the content of a high school newspaper produced as part of a school's journalism curriculum. (MS)

Mark Goodman discusses current issues in high school and college newspaper production such as censorship, underground newspapers, court cases involving student newspapers, and First Amendment rights. (SRT)

Reports on the Supreme Court's decision not to rule on a case involving the formation of an extracurricular religion club. This leaves the schools with no definitive legal decision for guidance in these cases. Also reports on court decisions in two recent cases involving schools' responsibility for protecting students on their way to and from…

Outlines important considerations in maintaining legal relationships between the school, pupils, and third parties (including parents). Defines "child" and "parent." Discusses the impact on school personnel of the complex variety of persons and institutions that may claim rights and privileges as "parent" with regard…

Two court cases involving parental objections to a school's curriculum on religious grounds carry important implications for the balance of control school boards and parents exert over the public school curriculum. (TE)