Reviews court decisions since Pickering v. Board of Education and Mt. Healthy v. Doyle, and suggests guidelines for balancing teachers' claims of first-amendment protection with need for orderly school administration. Ends by summarizing lawful restrictions on criticism of administrators and notes the elements of litigants' respective burdens of…

Provides excerpts from the six-part history of the United Federation of Teachers, New York City to show that most of the day-to-day rights and dignities teachers now take for granted once had to be wrested from a reluctant and uncooperative system. Suggests that the struggle to maintain these rights is continuing. (GR)

Religious rights of teachers are affected in three primary areas of activities: (1) outside the school environment; (2) inside the school environment; and (3) inside the classroom. These issues are examined from the perspective of the constitutional principles involved. (MLF)

Examines four cases decided in circuit courts regarding teachers' academic freedom. Cited in all these decisions was "Kuhlmeier," a case involving the lawful restriction of student speech. Contends that some of the language in the opinions could stimulate governing boards to try to intrude upon the professional judgment of teachers. (42…

Both the community and the teaching profession are claiming ownership of the problem of the impact of a teacher's private life on his employment status. An analysis uses a construct developed by Joseph R. Gusfield with components of ownership, causation, and political responsibility. (44 references) (MLF)

Tenure has lost public legitimacy. Of 30 states reforming civil-service systems or proposing reforms, Georgia has gone the farthest. Since 1996, new state government hires have been "at will" employees. Erosion of private-sector union strength may aid antitenure political leaders' efforts. A sidebar outlines states' actions. (10…

Discusses a federal district court decision ordering a trial to determine if the New York City Public Schools created a "hostile work environment" in violation of the Equal Employment Opportunity Act by not protecting a Sri Lankan-born teacher from repeated ridicule and harassment by students. (Contains 10 references.) (PKP)

Canadian public school boards still discriminate against homosexual educators. In British Columbia and Manitoba, recent court challenges raise questions about disciplining educators on the basis of sexual orientation and discussion of homosexuality in the classroom. Employment sanctions based on sexual orientation alone violate basic human and…

This booklet, one in the Education Policy Institute series about teacher union issues, examines issues related to membership in the National Education Association (NEA) and American Federation of Teachers (AFT). Both unions aggressively strive to enroll more members or require teachers to pay agency fees. If teachers want to change union policy,…

This article provides an overview of court cases that affect the curricular speech of teachers. Despite the large number of cases, the law governing speech in the schools is anything but settled. Courts disagree as to the analytical framework that should be applied to such claims, although most courts use the standard articulated by the Supreme…

Notes that the principles of academic freedom are not well established and that standards are difficult to define for judging individual cases of conflict. Reviews cases which demonstrate how difficult it is to draw the line between the rights of parents and the school board and the rights of teachers and students. (JDH)

Asserts that the rational use and management of conflict resulting from the clash of ideas is a sine qua non for social studies teachers. Argues that competent social studies teachers must stop short of violating the personal privacy of students even if the purpose is noble. (JDH)

Formulating and enforcing a code of ethics are characteristics of professional occupations. Such a code has not emerged, and never will, so long as collective bargaining is the dominant employment relations form in education. Unions formed to protect their members cannot accept the "management" responsibility for disciplining unethical…

Discusses the textbook protest movement, highlighting themes and materials that have come under attack. Examines how art education might be affected by the movement and presents eight guidelines, adapted from the work of Ken Donelson, as quoted by Edward B. Jenkinson, for the safe selection of course material. (GEA)

Discusses the "Yeshiva issue" from a management perspective critiquing Iorio's article and his assumption that the decision would serve as a "moderating influence." Points to the need for schools to increase teacher decision-making participation while ensuring a continuation of teachers' unions in collective bargaining. (MD)