A collection of essays designed to provide educators and other interested individuals with contemporary perspectives on the U.S. Constitution and separation of powers is presented. Separation of powers refers to one of the enduring principles of the U.S. constitutional system of government, in which governmental powers are subject to a division of…

James Madison's thoughts on various interpretations of the Constitution maintain that public opinion is the ultimate method of legitimizing the document. The Constitution must prevail against mere public opinion, but public opinion may be used to establish the meaning of the Constitution when conflicting interpretations exist. The public good and…

Problem-solving and role-playing can be used successfully even in the second semester of law school, serving as a bridge between traditional analytical and doctrinal education and the more realistic simulation and clinical experiences of the third year. Students can gain sufficient experience to perform proficiently in more advanced courses. (MSE)

Any educator who wants to stop bullying and harassment needs to first understand the legal ins and outs of the problem. Here's a guide that provides the practical information needed to protect students and avoid litigation. Using actual court cases and school events that made major headlines, educator and attorney Kathleen Conn examines essentials…

The Supreme Court's ruling in a flag-burning case raises questions about whether antiharassment policies that colleges and universities have adopted, penalizing slurs and epithets used by students to harass others, violate the First Amendment to the Constitution. If public college policies were found unconstitutional, private colleges would not…

Examines four issues involved in "Webster v. Reproductive Health Services:" (1) the preamble to the 1986 Missouri statute on abortion, (2) prohibiting public employees from performing abortions, (3) public funds for encouraging abortion, and (4) gestational age and viability provision. Focuses on the effects on the continuing vitality of…

Deals with court decisions related to secular humanism in public schools. States that the major issues are: (1) whether or not secular humanism is a religion; and (2) whether or not it is being promoted in public schools. Relates implications of the court's apparent definition of secular as nonreligious, rather than anti-religious. (LS)

A law school course about the Constitution's history and theory in the era of its framers is described. The course explores their learning, ideas, and vision and examines the document's intellectual background, writing and ratification processes, major issues and alternatives confronted, and ideas about its function as a form of government. (MSE)

Describes in detail the design and implementation of a collaborative learning project in a Constitutional law class, then uses education and social science research to explore how best to create and implement a collaborative learning project. Relates the research to the experience of the class project. (EV)

After being accused of sexually harassing a student, a high school math teacher in New York was suspended with pay pending an impartial hearing. The district allowed the teacher to return to his classroom to collect his personal effects, which he had kept in boxes, desk drawers, and three filing cabinets, one of which was locked. He did not…

On June 23, 2005, oral arguments were heard in the Fulton County Superior Court in the first round of Georgia's current school finance litigation, "CASFG v. State of Georgia." The hearing was on the state's motion to dismiss the action by a coalition of rural school districts, parents, and students. Four months later Senior Judge…

The Convocation on Academic Freedom promotes discussion on academic freedom through theme-centered presentations. This talk examines the United States Supreme Court's interpretation of the religion clauses of the Constitution in the context of education. The focus is on the First Amendment's establishment clause, which enforces separation of…

The report examines case law in both Canada and the United States with respect to the integration of exceptional pupils into regular classrooms, with particular emphasis given to three concepts: mainstreaming, least restrictive environment, and maximum benefit. Analysis of American and Canadian jurisprudence finds that all exceptional children…

This report analyzes recent cases and legislation in the area of church-state separation. A brief introduction asserts that the Supreme Court's method of evaluating establishment clause controversies is undergoing pervasive changes that have permitted incursions on establishment principles. The rest of the paper, providing support for this…

The United States Supreme Court's ruling in the "Houchins v KQED" case exemplifies the confusion of that court concerning any consistent view of the First Amendment of the United States Constitution, especially in terms of newsgathering and prior restraint. In this case, the Court reversed a lower court's decision that had held invalid a…