Reports that 72 Nobel prizewinners have filed a legal brief in the United States Supreme Court. The brief supports an effort to overturn Louisiana law that requires "creation science" to be given equal time with evolution in the state's public schools. Argues that "creation science" is religion dressed up as science. (TW)

This document is comprised of California state statutes, federal legislation, and court litigation pertaining to hate speech and the First Amendment. The document provides an overview of California education code sections relating to the regulation of speech; basic principles of the First Amendment; government efforts to regulate hate speech,…

Discusses the constitutional protection of individual rights, particularly how they relate to the conduct of law enforcement. Summarizes a number of Supreme Court decisions and the legal precedents they established. Considers the various jurisdictions and duties of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. (MJP)

Maintains traditional grading techniques can be a form of authentic assessment. Discusses three aspects of authentic assessment: (1) interdisciplinary problem-solving; (2) grading process as well as the product; and (3) developing a grading rubric to be shared with students. (CFR)

Reprints the Bill of Rights as instituted in the 1996 Constitution of the Republic of South Africa. Most of the provisions have been summarized but the basic rights (which cannot be rescinded in even in a state of emergency) are reprinted in their entirety. Includes topics for discussion and research. (MJP)

The 1982 Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms guarantees equal protection and equal benefit of the law to all individuals without discrimination "and, in particular, without discrimination based on...mental or physical handicap." This report identifies and clarifies policy-making questions and issues that are arising as educators…

The purpose of this paper is to examine, from a Constitutional perspective, the bases on which ability grouping and tracking might be challenged as barriers to equal educational opportunity. Findings from educational research on ability grouping, commentary from law review journals, and the texts of cases themselves are included as a part of the…

Discusses a euthanasia incident in which a doctor claimed, in a letter to the "Journal of the American Medical Association," to have given a fatal dose of morphine to a dying cancer patient. Debates the ethical issues involved in the journal's decision to print the letter, withholding the author's name. (DB)

Discusses a high school unit on First Amendment rights developed for a gifted students class in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania. Describes the unit's origins and procedures, such as issues studied and the use of research projects, guest speakers, and field trips. Emphasizes students' interest in learning about their rights. Identifies critical…

The review of 1994 judicial pronouncements on the law of higher education reports on and discusses cases addressing the First Amendment, invasion of privacy, tort liability, immunities, civil procedure, access to records and meetings, funding, employment, disciplinary decision, discrimination against students, intercollegiate athletics, and…

Explores the constitutional amendments and federal laws that extended the right to vote to most citizens. Discusses the historical circumstances and social issues that surrounded passage of the 15th Amendment (elimination of racial barriers), 19th Amendment (women's right to vote), and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. (MJP)

Major issues concerning the negotiation of a collective bargaining contract on February 1, 1981, at the National Autonomous Associations of Academic Personnel of the University (AAPAUNAM), the first legally authorized bargaining agent of the faculty. The contract was negotiated under terms of the recently enacted amendments to the federal…

Traces the application of the constitutional protection from "unreasonable searches and seizures" as it has evolved in response to public attitudes and changes in technology. Includes a synopsis of relevant cases and two lesson plans. The cases concern a police search through trash bags and drug testing for athletes. (MJP)

Presents a lesson plan that teaches students to analyze the goals and effectiveness of the juvenile justice system. Instructional materials include handouts describing three criminal situations involving teenagers and copies of an article on the juvenile justice system. Activities include small group discussions followed by a class discussion.…

Asserts that American revolutionaries so revered the rule of law that they relied on it to help rule their slaves. Maintains that Thomas Jefferson was no exception to this dilemma of justifying slavery while upholding liberty. Describes slavery at Jefferson's plantation, Monticello, within a legal and social structure. (CFR)