Background or Context: Public school library book challenges have garnered ample media attention in recent years as many school districts and advocacy organizations have reported record numbers of book challenges. Book challenges are not a new phenomenon, historically speaking, but they have often illuminated values clashes in communities and…

School districts are facing a sensationalized and alarming trend of unprofessional conduct and social media misuse by public school teachers. Likewise, recent court cases as well as highly publicized scandals raise concern that inappropriate relationships between teachers and students can be initiated through online social media. These emergent…

This article investigates the issues surrounding teachers' use of social networking media and their First Amendment rights. It focuses on the need to develop a school district policy outlining specific guidelines for the use of technology and social networking. It also focuses on the changing world of technology and social networking as well as…

The purpose for this article is to explore the juxtaposition of legal expectations, conflicting community cultural values, and the role of the superintendent in these connected but often conflicting issues. The authors explore several issues through the lens of Gay-Straight Alliance clubs, the "Equal Access Act," and the role of the…

This study examined the extent to which Texas school boards of education made efforts to locally modify student speech policy. Using online policy manuals provided by the Texas Association of School Boards, speech policies for 91 school districts were gathered using a purposive stratified sampling procedure and examined for local modifications to…

The Internet is a valuable educational tool being utilized in many classrooms today. However, Internet and computer policies restrict and limit how the Internet and computer can be used in a school. An Internet and computer policy typically limits students to use the Internet and computer for educational purposes. If a student violates this policy…

Discusses recent Third Circuit Court of Appeals decision in Pennsylvania case supporting claim that State College Area School District's anti-harassment policy violated two students' First Amendment right of free expression because it was overbroad. Draws lessons for public school officials. (PKP)

Censorship has become a significant problem for public school libraries and has been addressed in several court cases, including Pico v. Island Trees Board of Education, the first such case to be heard by the Supreme Court. In this case, to be decided in the summer of 1982, the school board voted to remove a group of books from school libraries,…

Attempts at censorship of books and periodicals used or made available in public schools have been increasing in recent years. Parents are raising a higher proportion of the complaints than ever before, and the percentage of complaints that are successful in having books removed from shelves is also on the rise. Three of seven federal court…

Examines the Hazelwood School District v. Kuhlmeier Supreme Court decision regarding removal of books from public school classrooms and libraries, analyzes its effect on removal of books from the curriculum for legitimate educational reasons, and discusses a potential conflict between Hazelwood principles and the Establishment Clause of the First…

This paper discusses court cases in which teachers allege constitutional violations of their First and Fourteenth Amendment rights. The cases represent a struggle between those forces representing the authority of the board of education to govern public schools and those advocating the individual rights of teachers to continue their employment in…

Tracing the development of school library controversies involving book removals, this article examines federal court cases including the Supreme Court's split decision in "Board of Education v. Pico." Outlined is how First Amendment principles have been used in the resolution of these cases. (MD)

Describes a Circuit Court of Appeals case concerning a middle school principal who was unfairly fired after making a controversial speech on inadequate school finances. Describes a search and seizure case involving a student's possession of a gun and drugs on campus. Urges school boards to know the law before taking action. (MLH)

Questions a recent court decision in which public school employees who gathered on their own time on school property for prayer meetings and religious discussion were found to be in violation of the school district's policy prohibiting prayer meetings and in violation of the Constitution. (MD)

Analyzes federal case involving suspension of New Jersey high school student for wearing a T-shirt listing top 10 reasons for being a "redneck" in violation of district's racial harassment policy. Court upheld the policy with a minor exception, but ruled its application to the student's "redneck" T-shirt violated his First…