Evidence indicates that violence in our classrooms only breeds more violence in and out of the school. Corporal punishment is worse than useless as a deterrent to misbehavior: it must be considered actively harmful. (Author/IRT)

Examines provisions of the South African Constitution pertaining to pupil rights in conjunction with the construction the United States Supreme Court has placed on corresponding provisions of the U.S. Constitution. (46 footnotes) (MLF)

Supreme Court rulings specify that the study of religion in the the public schools must be undertaken from an objective point of view and as part of a program of secular (rather than religious) education. However, the "Back to Basics" movement is a conservative educational philosophy with strong moral and religious overtones. (Author/MLF)

The U.S. Supreme Court, the Congress, state legislatures, and city councils can ask for divine guidance, but public schools are denied this advantage. The First Amendment was designed to protect religious minorities from oppression by a religious majority, not to protect people from religion. Tapping into a higher power would civilize, not…

Jerry Cammarata's poignant article provides a valuable opportunity to discuss the Supreme Court's wisdom in prohibiting nondenominational prayer in public schools in 1962 ("Engel v. Vitale") and to review current case law. The Constitution permits prayer chosen and spoken privately by a student, supported by family, friends, and clergy.…

Reviews the proposed Constitutional amendment regulating voluntary prayer in public schools, and charges that it would undermine precedents ensuring the separation of church and state. Discusses the nature of prayer and the role of the public schools. (JAC)

Examines the concept of equal educational opportunity found in the district court's decisions in "Keyes," the court of appeals' response, and the legal framework in which those decisions were made. Asserts that a constitutional doctrine of equal educational opportunity can be formulated to address educational disparities. (Author/IRT)

One of America's best-known trial lawyers, William Kunstler, has argued passionately for defendants' constitutional rights and taught English and law at various colleges. Kunstler attributes his metamorphosis from Tom Peck bad boy to determined, lifelong student to immersion in books and ideas available in a public library annex eight blocks from…

Identifies five great ideas of the U.S. Constitution as power, liberty, justice, equality, and property. The first of two installments, article focuses on how ideas of power and liberty are presented in the Constitution. It also discusses how people may exercise power through voting and public protest and liberty through their First Amendment…

Argues that integration and bilingual education are compatible and that, for a bilingual program to be constitutional, it should be both optional and open to all students. Available from University of Pennsylvania Law School, 3400 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104; sc $3.00. (Author/IRT)

Traces the history of "The Pledge of Allegiance" litigation and discusses the probability the Supreme Court will agree to resolve the difference in judicial opinion over the constitutionality of including the words "under God" in the pledge. (Contains 32 references.) (MLF)

Explores the opinions of Justice Rehnquist in issues concerning religion and public education; observes that the Supreme Court appears just one vote away from shifting church/state issues to the local level; and urges those concerned with constitutional values and public education to reexamine the Bill of Rights. (MLF)

To provide a comparative perspective on the legalization of education, the author analyzes the role of the West German Federal Constitutional Court in shaping educational policy. He identifies two constitutional norms the court uses to interpret the relationship between education and the state: equal protection and the legitimacy of educational…

Discusses the Supreme Court's findings affecting searches by schools in "New Jersey vs. T.L.O.," reviews earlier school search cases, and explores the factors and circumstances the courts have considered in applying the "reasonableness" standard for assessing when a school's need for maintaining order outweighs a student's…

The term "due process of law" has been overextended to apply to cases arising out of the public school system. This has resulted in increasing involvement of the judiciary in the administration of public schools, which has affected their day to day operation. (Author/MJL)