The recent Supreme Court refusal to hear a case appeal may prevent some church-related colleges from hiring only faculty sharing their beliefs. The earlier decision, involving hiring in a private elementary/secondary school, held that the institution was primarily secular, not religious by nature. (MSE)

Many activities that take place in the library, including circulation and interlibrary loan and reserve requests, result in the creation of records linking clients to specific kinds of information. Several groups, including law enforcement officials, have attempted on various occasions to gain access to these records. This research paper provides…

This paper analyzes data on anti-corporal punishment advocacy and the data's use in judicial, legislative, and public areas. The paper defines corporal punishment and discusses seminal court cases, personal effects of corporal punishment, developmental factors, demographic factors, litigation, use of tort remedies, and the concept of Educator…

Presents a lesson plan that teaches students to analyze and identify the constitutional rights that protect individuals accused of crimes. Student handouts include a checklist of situations and corresponding constitutional protections and a scenario involving a murder at the school. Activities include guided group discussions. (MJP)

The Supreme Court let stand a California court's ruling sharply limiting the right of administrators at public colleges to interfere with faculty members' curriculum decisions. The ruling came from a 1986 decision by the San Diego Community College District to bar the staging of a controversial play. (MSE)

Describes the annual Moot Court Competition held each year in Sacramento, California and supported by the Citizenship and Law-Related Education Center. The program gives high school students the opportunity to learn about the nation's justice system using a role-playing scenario of an appellate-level court argument. (MJP)

Identifies and discusses recent decisions and upcoming cases of the Supreme Court that are likely to be of interest to teachers. Educational issues addressed include Internet access and censorship, affirmative action, sexual harassment, drug testing, and the separation of church and state. Includes a brief description Supreme Court duties. (MJP)

This discussion of the special legal status of the University of Minnesota, known as constitutional autonomy, defines this status, states the rationale for the principle, and describes the relevant territorial act and constitutional provision. The main part of the legal analysis examines Minnesota court cases which addressed the issue of the…

This publication is the result of a project in New York State to increase public awareness of themes related to the U.S. Constitution using the medium of the arts. Designed as a photo essay, the volume reflects the activities of thousands of students in the Statewide Mini-Imagination Celebration Program. In efforts to understand the impact of…

Religion's place in the curriculum and how school administrators can avoid litigation while discharging the obligation to educate are discussed in this report. It is designed to give school policymakers guidance in arriving at informed decisions about religion's place in the curriculum. Chapter one examines the dilemma of adequately educating…

While the law governing the definition of educational adequacy is still evolving, partial definitions can be gleaned from various state and federal laws and regulations prescribing standards for schools and from judicial interpretations of constitutional and statutory provisions. This document presents the results of such an analysis. After…

Reviews court cases in which parents challenged school practices on religious grounds. Puts particular emphasis on recent attempts to make the curriculum conform to religious views. (Author/JM)

A federal appeals court has upheld an amendment to California's constitution that bars government agencies from granting preferences based on gender or race. The California Civil Rights Initiative, or Proposition 209, was found not to violate the Equal Protection Clause. If the ruling is not reversed, public colleges and universities will be…

Examines and corrects political science textbook errors concerning the electoral college. Textbooks frequently attribute specific provisions and functions of the college to the federal government when, in fact, they are controlled by the states. Historical dates and contingency provisions are other areas erroneously cited. (MJP)

Provides an instructive overview of the responsibilities of the police and the rights of the citizen concerning criminal investigations. Briefly describes the protections afforded by the fourth, fifth, sixth, eighth, and fourteenth amendments. Includes a learning activity involving a legal analysis of situations. (MJP)