Several years ago, Macomb Community College suspended an English teacher for three days because he frequently used profanity in the classroom that was not germane to course subject matter. The teacher's response to this suspension and the administration's response to his actions prompted a series of countermeasures by each party, and culminated in…

"Education Matters" is the monthly newsletter of the Association of American Educators (AAE), an organization dedicated to advancing the American teaching profession through personal growth, professional development, teacher advocacy and protection. This issue of the newsletter includes: (1) Supreme Court Hears Union Coercion Case; What…

Discover the link between ethical leadership and successful educational communities! In an age of accountability and transparency, principals are held responsible for everything from test scores to school finances. Because of this increased accountability, school leaders must regularly confront difficult ethical dilemmas. This book teaches…

A September 8, 2006, ruling by the New Hampshire Supreme Court that the state's current education financing system is unconstitutional was the latest in a long string of court decisions, legislative responses, and subsequent court opinions that have made school funding one of the state's most contentious issues. This report summarizes how the…

This article address the legal and constitutional issues surrounding how far school leaders can go in restricting distribution of materials that are viewed as religious in nature. Does restricting the student's right to distribute the flyer amount to a suppression of free speech based on content? Does the principal's action constitute unlawful…

Thirteen cases involving state school-finance litigation were decided in 1994. Of these 13 decisions, 6 state systems were found to be unconstitutional. This document describes state litigation involving school finance for 1994-95. A review of cases finds that states have manifested a variety of responses to court decisions. Most suits turn on the…

Most school districts have cautiously avoided situations in which they may violate the legal principle of church-state separation. This paper describes a few cases in which public schools found ways to legally include Christian activities for Christian students. The passage of the United States Equal Access Act in 1984 allowed religious clubs…

This volume focuses on the challenge of multiculturalism and the politics of recognition facing democratic societies today, concentrating on the United States and Canada in particular. The initial inquiry by Charles Taylor considers whether the institutions of liberal democratic government make room for, or even should accommodate, recognizing the…

The role of the U.S. Constitution as a model for an influence on the establishment of governments in other nations offers an effective vehicle for expanding education about this nation's civic values, rights, and responsibilities. By studying how the ideas and principles of the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights have been adopted, adapted,…

A series of four speeches on law-related topics comprise this volume. The text of each speech along with comments of invited respondents are included. The presentations include: "Justice and Sentencing" (Daniel Moylan); "Law: Obedience and Civil Disobedience" (Linda Irvin); "Liberty--The Right of Privacy" (Allan Powell); and "Punishment: The Death…

The 17 essays included in this book are designed to provide educators and other interested readers with contemporary perspectives on a broad range of themes and topics concerning the U.S. Constitution. The authors are a distinguished group of historians, political scientists, legal scholars, and jurists. The essays include: "The Achievement…

The history of the 11th amendment to the U.S. Constitution and its current application to schools and universities are examined in this paper. The amendment, which seeks to protect the states by redefining judicial boundaries within the federal concept of government, is unclear and paradoxical, especially to claimants seeking federal relief from a…

This collection of lesson plans presents ideas for educators and persons in the law and justice community to teach young people about the Bill of Rights. The lesson plans are: "Mindwalk: An Introduction to the Law or How the Bill of Rights Affects Our Lives"; "Bill of Rights Bingo"; "The Classroom 'Constitutional…

This book, intended for juveniles and young students, provides an encyclopedic collection of reference information about the U.S. Supreme Court. The articles are arranged alphabetically to aid in looking up words, ideas, or names. Lists of "see also" entries are located at the end of articles to refer the reader to related subjects. The…

This report addresses the issue of the extent to which state constitutions permit sectarian schools to be included in a choice program. The issue has arisen in connection with federal proposals to fund school-choice programs subject to the law of each state. If the question is considered without reference to federal funding, the inclusion of…