In "Westbrook," a federal court recently struck down a school board policy in Wyoming that limited and channeled criticism among employees. Summarizes the judge's reasoning and concludes that the board failed to seek a balance between its legitimate interests and the basic right of school employees to speak out about matters of public…

In the early 1980s, public school teachers in Chiapas, Mexico, organized themselves in a dissident mass movement aimed at democratizing their participation in union affairs and restructuring the relations of domination and subordination affecting their work lives. Macro-level analysis focuses on union corruption situated within an authoritarian…

Argues that, in order to improve education, teachers must be granted greater authority. Reviews the factors that contribute to teacher authority character, moral integrity, membership in a true profession, and salary. Suggests that a strong professional association could contribute to teacher autonomy. (NL)

This paper argues that, if teachers are to be held accountable for instructional quality, then the educational establishment must be held accountable for providing teachers with relevant knowledge and the feasible professional tools derived from that knowledge. Suggestions are offered for developing this accountability, such as field testing…

Examines the implications of the exercise of academic freedom as well as potential threats to it. Considers administrative problems, reasonableness of standards, grading practices, and relevance of course content as well as scholarship. (KEH)

Discussion of trends concerning academic freedom compares the limits to academic freedom traditionally rooted in professional ethics and applied by the academic profession with the areas of protection prescribed by courts. It is concluded that even when generous, rulings have not necessarily been in the best interest of the academy. (MSE)

Discusses an unsuccessful lawsuit brought by Margaret Boring, an acclaimed high school drama teacher in Buncombe County, North Carolina. She was transferred to a middle school for allegedly violating the school's "controversial materials" policy after students performed an expurgated version of Lee Blessing's "Independence."…

Discusses a 2000 federal trial court decision upholding a Kentucky district's termination of a tenured teacher who presented a curricular segment on industrial hemp as part of a "save-the-trees" unit. The decision underscores teachers' severely limited constitutional rights in the curricular context. (MLH)

Increased appreciation of the commercial value of intellectual property has triggered a major debate on college campuses, focusing on two issues: ownership of intellectual property and use of copyrighted works in teaching and research. Because these raise faculty-rights issues, faculty must identify its claims and interests clearly and make itself…

States that part-time faculty--whose numbers have doubled in the last generation--are paid an average of only $1500 per three-unit class, are rarely included in the community college culture, receive no benefits, and frequently lack legal protective measures. Offers suggestions as to how these legal issues can be addressed and resolved. (NB)

Teachers and coaches who suffer reprisals for complaining about illegal sex discrimination against their students will be able to sue their school districts for damages, under a ruling by a sharply divided U.S. Supreme Court. The 5-4 ruling held that the federal law that bars discrimination based on sex in federally financed education programs…

Virtually all state charter school legislation addresses teacher rights and working environment. Relationships with teacher unions are either specified in the law, or approval of the charter requires suitable provisions for employee hiring, firing, grievances, etc. Charter school evaluation almost without exception includes some references to…

Although education is primarily a state function, its importance to our society makes it fertile ground for litigation. The Constitution--by authorizing the Congress to enact legislation--constrains and prescribes what happens in schools. Legislative histories, especially since the early 1960s, are outlined here. The major topics include:…

The status of faculty unionization in American colleges in 1988 is reviewed in this newsletter. Information is given on the following: agents elected; activities of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), National Education Association (NEA), and American Association of University Professors (AAUP); "no-agent" elections; decertifications;…

Intended for use in school law courses of a primarily informative nature with some attention given to attitudinal concerns, this book was designed for teachers and educational administrators. The contents are divided into 13 units that contain information regarding education and the American legal system, certification and employment, religion and…