In a case involving an injured football player, an 11th Circuit judge viewed a coach's refusal to stop a fight as corporal punishment. Federal courts in five circuits have ruled that excessive corporal punishment violates the Due Process Clause if it is so brutal and harmful that it shocks the court's conscience. (MLH)

The peer review system for evaluating schools (the "Toledo Plan") is gaining favor among teachers in other school systems. Schools are generally reluctant to dismiss incompetent teachers because of documentation complexities, but incompetent teachers should nevertheless be weeded out. (TE)

The late 1960's have seen teachers and students gain rights in school that they had not had before. No longer can the administrator and the school board act as their own lawyer. (Author/WM)

A search of published cases concerning the dismissal of superintendents revealed 22 court decisions for the period 1983-89. Offers advice to board members compiled from the reported cases. (MLF)

A student athlete died after the first day of football practice in Texas. His parents brought suit (Roventini v. Pasadena Independent School District) for monetary damages in federal district court contending that the defendants violated the student's rights. Presents the judge's analysis of the legal issues. Advises board members and…

Discusses the U.S. Supreme Court's recent ruling in the Strickland case that school board members must know the "basic, unquestioned constitutional rights" of all students and that individual board members may be liable to damage suits filed by students whose rights have been violated. (JG)