Based on a recent Supreme Court decision which allows schools to censor school-sponsored newspapers, this article offers guidelines to avoid legal challenges in this area. Questions raised by the decision regarding the extent to which school authorities may censor student newspapers and the amount of judicial interference in curriculum matters are…

Examines the current state of First Amendment rights of faculty at public colleges and universities. Using as a focus the recent case of Crue v. Aiken, analyzes the place of the prior restraint doctrine and the treatment of public employees in the free speech context, arriving at a conclusion that offers an extension of the restrictions allowed by…

Teachers and other public employees enjoy the same fundamental rights as other citizens. They are entitled to free speech--though the privilege is not limitless--and to due process and equal protection under the law. (Author/DCS)

Court decisions regarding the right of teachers to select instructional materials and methods show teachers have some authority, as do administrators and boards of education. None of the groups has limitless power. Offers guidelines to help prevent misunderstandings and conflicts. (MLF)

Reviews some legal and procedural guidelines pertaining to freedom of expression and due process in how teachers and administrators handle student verbal or symbolic threats. Reviews school cases related to freedom of expression, written expression, verbal or written expression off school property, and Internet expression. Offers recommendations…

The focus of this chapter is on the substantive constitutional protections of the public school employment relationship guaranteed by the First Amendment, particularly freedom of speech, and by the Fourteenth Amendment's right to privacy. Included are burden-of-proof standards required for establishing a prima facie case of denial of these…

Examines two related issues: the right of teachers to select instructional materials and to select instructional methods. Court decisions indicate that materials and methods must have educational value, relevance, and suitability to the age and maturity of the students. Prior administrative approval, while not necessarily required, is beneficial.…

This book was designed to serve as a legal resource for secondary and elementary school teachers and prospective teachers. Specifically, the book helps teachers become aware of their legal rights and responsibilities in order to avoid violating others' constitutional and statutorial rights in the classroom, and to assert their personal and…

This guide for school district administrators presents workshop materials for administrators' mutual training. The guide assists administrators in preventing lawsuits by teachers against the district for violations of the First Amendment right to freedom of speech. Section 1, the introduction, offers two objectives: to acquaint administrators with…

The principal is faced with myriad legal issues on a daily basis, making it imperative that he or she keep abreast with developing legal issues. The first of four sections, "Students and the Law," surveys federal statutes and landmark Supreme Court decisions pertaining to the rights of students. It addresses legal issues regarding search and…

This book is about teachers and the laws that affect them. New to this sixth edition are new court cases and a chapter that highlights likely controversies in the coming years, including school choice, high-stakes testing, control of the Internet, and gang clothing. The book is divided into two parts. Part I, "The Legal Aspects of Teaching,"…

These legal documents and discussions represent a variety of litigations concerning state statutes and federal regulations. Part A, "Preventing a Law Suit," offers suggestions for avoiding employee termination lawsuits and presents documents for teacher evaluation and for teacher termination and grievance hearings. "New and Emerging…

This curriculum guide presents a context for preservice education and/or professional development in education law for teachers. Section 1, "Teacher Liability," discusses "Duty to Supervise,""Providing Reasonable Care,""Duty,""Preventing Student-to-Student Sexual Harassment,""Reporting Child…