This paper considers recent state and federal court decisions regarding the private lives of teachers. It discusses in detail cases involving homosexuality, which are the most controversial, and cases involving heterosexuality. Also discussed are cases involving teacher relationships with minor students, nonsexual immorality, drug-related…

The Supreme Court opinion's absolute authority and guaranteed admission to the legal canon make it a rhetorically unique genre, but nevertheless one that is illuminated through close analysis. On June 30, 1986, the United States Supreme Court announced its decision in Bowers v. Hardwick, expressing a judgment that the Federal Constitution does not…

This paper discusses the current issues of homosexuality, the law, and public schools. It states that school administrators need to understand homosexuality as a concept and as a legal issue because research on homosexuality has historically been remiss and court cases regarding the rights of homosexuals are increasing. Following a brief summary…

Via a case study, this paper explores the legal question of whether a local school board's inquiry into the fitness of its teachers can extend outside the classroom. This issue is discussed within the framework of two divergent views concerning the absolute nature of First Amendment rights on the one hand and a compelling state interest that may…

With increasing frequency, questions concerning the legality of discharging homosexual teachers have arisen. A review of court cases from different jurisdictions provides some guidelines, such as the fact that mere pronouncement by a teacher that he or she is a homosexual is not in and of itself sufficient grounds for discharging a teacher.…

Recent court definitions of immoral conduct require that employers establish a nexus between the objectionable conduct and the individual's fitness to teach, while teacher plaintiffs have argued that dismissals for alleged immoral conduct violated various constitutional rights. This paper reviews a cross-section of recent court cases involving…

In 1973, a significant year for school law in America, the Serrano school finance concept was settled at the federal court level by the Supreme Court in its Rodriguez decision. However, at the State level, the issue remains very much alive. The de facto/de jure pupil racial segregation dichotomy was considered by the Supreme Court in the Keyes…