"When you start your new job as a school librarian, one of the first steps you must take is to ask to see the district's book selection policy. If there isn't one, write one. Right away. It protects you, the teachers, and the district." That advice was part of the author's school library administration course at the School of Library and…

One of the most important topics for today's information technology professional is the study of legal and regulatory issues as they relate to privacy and security of personal and business data and identification. This manuscript describes the topics and approach taken by the instructors that focuses on independent research of source documents and…

The teaching of evolution and creationism is controversial to many people in the United States. Knowledge of the many important court-decisions about the teaching of evolution and creationism in the United States can be used not only to resist anti-evolution activities of creationists, but also to help teachers address questions about the teaching…

Winter 2007 marked an episode of high anxiety in the library science profession, when the latest Newbery winner, "The Higher Power of Lucky," triggered discussion about words and their suitability for young readers. It seems that the entire world now knows that the word "scrotum" appears on the first page of the book. School…

The legal tests that are applied to the issue of state mandates to provide creation instruction in public schools, and the implications of the mandates, are discussed. This issue is compared with other curriculum mandates and requirements to illustrate the difficulty of the problem. (MSE)

It remains to be seen how a task force from the American Political Science Association will contrive an equality of voice for the politically apathetic, but that goal, they say, is crucial to the continued workings of American democracy. Robert Weissberg wonders how muffling the appeals of those actively engaged in the political process will sit…

Intended to act as a general introduction for high school and college students, this book presents an annotated bibliography of books, periodical articles, legal materials, and other documents dealing with the subject of intellectual freedom and censorship. The book is divided into five parts: (1) "The Theoretical Foundations of Censorship…

Reviews court decisions on creationism, science, and separation of church and state in relation to 1st and 14th amendments,establishment clause, and free exercise clause. Discusses fundamentalist interpretation of evolution and concept of "scientific neutrality." Proposes that rights of religious minorities are best served if teaching of…

Presents a brief conceptual background on the First Amendment freedoms and due process. Offers three case studies to help students explore the issue of balancing First Amendment freedoms with the governmental responsibility for the common good. (JDH)

This article examines the interrelated legal and scientific nature of the creationism controversy. It discusses "McLean vs. Arkansas Board of Education" and analyzes current tactics used by creationists, concluding that they are constitutionally impermissible. An approach is proposed that balances First Amendment interests with the need…

The memorandum opinion constituting the district court's findings in the case of Arkansas' state law mandating instruction on creation in public schools is presented. Plaintiffs in the suit include Jewish and Christian individuals and organizations and those concerned with academic freedom issues. Defendants include state education officials and…

Noting that the work of Jurgen Habermas has had an important influence on philosophy and the social sciences recently, this paper examines the implications of using Habermas's "ideal speech situation" as a criterion for deciding issues relating to the First Amendment. The paper first briefly reviews the distinctive features of critical…

Offers a lesson plan for teaching upper elementary and middle school students about the First Amendment. The lesson begins by inviting students to censor government criticism in the local newspaper and may be expanded to include an introduction to the Bill of Rights. (JDH)

A general introduction to computer based national information systems, and the context and basis for future studies are provided in this report. Chapter One, the introduction, summarizes computers and information systems and their relation to society, the structure of information policy issues, and public policy issues. Chapter Two describes the…

Provides a six day unit of instruction designed to help senior high students understand the civil rights guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution's First Amendment. Based around provided summaries of famous court cases, the unit includes instructional objectives, suggested teaching procedures, and evaluation aids. (JDH)