In the last decade judicial decisions have moderated the authority of administrators and teachers and made schools more concerned with the rights and responsibilities of students. This article reviews court decisions concerning freedom of expression, procedural due process, religion and the schools, search and seizure, and corporal punishment.…

The Supreme Court's "T.L.O." decision and its application by the lower courts provide school administrators with considerable guidance in dealing with search and seizure situations. A nationwide survey of 238 high school principals indicates the status of search and seizure practices in public secondary schools. (MLF)

Reviews court decisions pertaining to student rights in search and seizure cases where theft or drug abuse is suspected. Suggests that the in loco parentis doctrine gives school officials both the authority and responsibility for conducting reasonable searches even though the Fourth Amendment provides constitutional protection. (JAC)

Presents issues regarding search and seizure in residence halls and suggests some policies that may be used until the law is clarified. Examples include use of a search warrant for routine safety inspection, in emergencies, when students give permission, or when evidence is in plain view. (JAC)

Two union lawyers concede that employer concern about substance abuse is legitimate but object to the invasion of individual privacy and the assault on worker dignity. Describe the standards that must be met for drug testing to be constitutionally valid and identify the unreliable technology of drug tests. (MLF)

Discusses the federal constitutional limits placed on school officials in various attempts to reduce crime in their schools. Describes searches of a student's person and belongings, school lockers, and the use of metal detectors. Possible pitfalls for schools in their efforts to reduce crime include due process requirements. (97 footnotes) (MLF)

Focuses on the recent application and interpretation of the Fourth Amendment to school children. Discusses the amendment in regard to the relationship between school authorities and children, students' legitimate expectation of privacy, reasonableness in justification of a search, issues of mass mandatory screening, and requirements of due process…

Cites two court cases regarding students' complains of sexual harassment by teachers. Contends that the educators in these cases violated both commonly accepted personal morality and the ethics of their profession. Reveals a widespread resistance to the study on the psychological development of girls. (MLF)

Reviews Supreme Court case, New Jersey v. T.L.O., that established the right of school officials to conduct searches of students when the purpose is to maintain discipline, order, and safety in the educational setting. The need to have reasonable grounds for suspicion before conducting the search is emphasized. (CR)

Since the passage of the 1975 Education for All Handicapped Children Act and the 1986 PL99-457 amendment, many children aged birth to 3 years with special health care needs are enrolled in early intervention programs. Educators working in early intervention services often need to respond to and manage seizure activity and medical emergencies for…

Many view the problem of violence as not merely a school problem, but as a much larger community problem that is finding its way into the schools. As a society, in addition to teaching our children how to be violent, we are giving them the tools of violence. There are steps that school board members can take to establish and maintain control of…

Findings of a study that examined the effect of a 13-week inservice program on administrators' awareness of laws governing student searches and seizures are presented in this practicum report. Four school-site administrators participated in the project once a week. Program activities included case analyses, role-playing exercises, and…

THE FOLLOWING IS THE FULL TEXT OF THIS DOCUMENT: A parent who notices a gun in his child's room would not hesitate to ask questions and demand answers about its presence. As a school administrator, I believe it is my responsibility to ask questions and take action when I find an equally destructive weapon--drugs--in my schools. The zealous…

The courts have come to play an increasingly important role in educational policy making and the administrative management of our public schools. This is especially apparent in the context of school discipline where numerous and varied controversies have been translated into legal disputes over the past three decades, many of which have ultimately…

The Supreme Court in 1985 first addressed the issue of balance between a student's right to privacy as stated in the Fourth Amendment and school officials' need to maintain safety. This chapter summarizes the case, explores the meaning of the court opinion, and briefly discusses other issues. The case involved a 14-year-old girl (T.L.O.) whose…