Public school leaders often find themselves caught between groups with passionately held--but widely varying--views regarding the appropriate role for religion in public schools. Tensions are heightened by the growth of well-funded special interest groups inclined to litigate anywhere a test case arises. By reviewing the most recent judicial…

As the most unionized segment of the public sector workforce in the USA, teachers and their bargaining representatives wield significant power in the world of educational labour relations and beyond. Yet, just as the First Amendment's freedom of association clause affords unions the right to exist, its concomitant recognition that employees are…

Groups that often find themselves on opposing sides of the cultural war over gay rights have bridged their divide to draft consensus guidelines designed to help public schools address sexual-orientation issues with sensitivity and respect. Representatives from the Christian Educators Association International and the Gay, Lesbian and Straight…

This discussion summarizes the general principles that may be applied in determining the limits of free expression and proposes new criteria based on libertarian values. Among the general principles summarized are the bad-tendency test, the clear-and-present-danger test, the balancing test, the incitement test, and the hypothetical absolute test.…

The Government in the Sunshine Act, passed by Congress in September 1976 to become effective in March 1977, will require many of the federal government's decision-making agencies to permit attendance by the press and public at agency meetings. This report details the provisions of the new law and comments on the effects it may have on the…

Examines the concept of federalism in terms of its past history and its encouraging future. Calls for a revival of concern for federalism not simply as a convenient administrative arrangement but as a fundamental constitutional value. (BSR)

This article identifies six problems that teachers routinely encounter in teaching about the U.S. Constitution and suggests practical ways to overcome them. Among the problems covered are the heavy concept load and difficult reading level. (Author/BSR)

Uses five myths about the Constitution of the United States to help students better understand the basis for and the ratification of this important historical document. Among the myths included are the heart of the Constitution is the Bill of Rights and the Constitution was created by reactionary commercial interests to maintain the status quo.…

Provides a lesson plan designed to help students better understand the concept of a constitution, distinguish constitutional law from statutory law, and recognize examples of constitutional government. (BSR)

Reviews recent decisions of the U.S. Supreme Court. The decisions involve student rights, the Gramm-Rudman budget law, homosexuals' right to privacy, the regulation of state primary elections, pregnancy and employment policy, Miranda Rights, and the legality of certain police searches. (JDH)

A recent Florida court decision provides an example of a textbook case of an unconstitutionl student search. The key distinction from the "New Jersey vs. TLO" case (a student search found to be constitutional) is that the teacher who searched the students had no reasonable cause. (MD)

These lessons are based on U.S. Census 2000 results, focusing on changes in the United States during the 1990s. Students construct choropleth (thematic) maps, analyze information from tables and maps, discuss the impact of the Census 2000 apportionment counts on their state and the United States, and calculate population totals. Lessons include…

Reviews pertinent court cases in a discussion of how much freedom teachers have to decide how they will teach their students. Includes cases in which teacher authority was upheld and others in which it was denied. (Author/WD)

Evidence indicates that violence in our classrooms only breeds more violence in and out of the school. Corporal punishment is worse than useless as a deterrent to misbehavior: it must be considered actively harmful. (Author/IRT)

Once a teacher can establish that conduct protected by the Constitution was the major cause of his/her dismissal, the burden of establishing another cause of termination falls on the school board. (Author/IRT)