From 2009 to 2011, the authors launched the Basic Law Education Project: Education for Human Rights and the Rule of Law in Hong Kong. This article focuses on a subset of the overarching data-set and discusses the findings that resulted from a comparative analysis of two participating schools. A survey was deployed to assess the extent to which a…

The U.S. Supreme Court declined without comment to take up two major appeals involving student free-speech rights on the Internet. One appeal encompassed two cases decided in favor of students last June by the full U.S. Court of Appeals for the 3rd Circuit, in Philadelphia. The other appeal stemmed from a decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for…

The Dear Colleague Letter (DCL) does the following: (1) Clarifies the relationship between bullying and discriminatory harassment under the civil rights laws enforced by the Department of Education's (ED) Office for Civil Rights (OCR); (2) Explains how student misconduct that falls under an anti-bullying policy also may trigger responsibilities…

In recent years, many state departments of education and local school districts have taken steps to reduce bullying in schools. The U.S. Department of Education (Department) fully supports these efforts. Bullying fosters a climate of fear and disrespect that can seriously impair the physical and psychological health of its victims and create…

School discipline is a critical area for research, as student interaction with school institutional authority is one of the primary mechanisms whereby young people come into contact with and internalize societal norms, values, and rules. It is thus significant that the number of cases reaching state and federal appellate courts has surged back up…

The Internet age has led to a different kind of teen bullying: cyberbullying. What is cyberbullying and what can teens do about it? In "Teen Cyberbullying Investigated," Judge Tom Jacobs presents a powerful collection of landmark court cases involving teens and charges of cyberbullying and cyberharassment. This riveting, informative guide will…

The Internet is a valuable educational tool being utilized in many classrooms today. However, Internet and computer policies restrict and limit how the Internet and computer can be used in a school. An Internet and computer policy typically limits students to use the Internet and computer for educational purposes. If a student violates this policy…

This paper examines whether students have due process rights associated with disciplinary and academic hearings. Constitutional challenges, case law, and the requirements of due process are discussed. Suggestions are made for procedures a school should follow to fulfill the requirements of due process.

Judicious Discipline is a discipline model based on a synthesis of professional ethics, good educational practice, and students' constitutional rights. This paper provides an overview of Judicious Discipline in the schools. Many educators who have familiarized themselves with the concepts of Judicious Discipline begin with a discussion of students…

Results of this survey indicate that the Goss v. Lopez decision, concerning notice and hearing requirements in school suspension incidents, does not represent an overwhelming administrative burden in Illinois, since many principals have long provided the safeguards that the decision mandates. (MB)

Examines the background of due process as it relates to school discipline, as well as several recent court decisions involving this point of law. (Author)

The courts have established that students have a right to due process when they are suspended from school for disciplinary reasons, since suspension involves depriving the student of his entitlement to an education. When grade reduction is used for punishing absence or tardiness or to discourage unacceptable behavior, must due process also be…

The problem of developing a widely acceptable set of standards for evaluating school discipline is examined. The issue of determining what kinds of evidence best indicate whether schools are living up to norms of basic fairness in their evaluation standards is also explored. (RLV)

Examines the distinctions between protected free speech and discriminatory verbal harassment on college campuses. Cites numerous campus policies and recent Supreme Court decisions. Discusses a proposed guideline based on the direct use of "fighting words" to insult or stigmatize an individual. (FMW)