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)

Students may be punished for publishing articles that urge disruption or that are obscene, defamatory, malicious, or improperly invade the privacy of others. The school board should adopt a strong, clear policy that does not violate the First Amendment. (Author/IRT)

Outlines the case in which a judge held that Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Christmas assemblies were constitutional. Presents part of the school district policy on the observance of religious holidays. (IRT)

Outlines a case in which the school board was overly restrictive of teachers' speech. Advises boards to be aware of policies that make questionable distinctions, not to be slow in changing a questionable policy, to try to anticipate side effects of policies, and to be willing to admit error. (Author/IRT)

Provides a checklist for administrators and board members to use in examining school policy to see if it can stand legal challenges. The list covers such areas as the educational soundness, precision, fairness, and equity of educational policies. (IRT)

What judges are doing "with increasing boldness," in fact, is telling school people to solve their own cases instead of bringing them to court. (Author)

When considering student expulsion, it is important to keep complete records of all hearings and proceedings. Reviewed is a recent Pennsylvania court case in which a board decision to expel two students was overturned in the courts because no hearing records were kept. (MD)

Examines two cases of litigation involving school newspapers. In one case the board of education action against publication was supported, in the other it was not. (IRT)

The principal's domain has been increasingly shaped by demands for accountability, by student activism and teacher collectivism, and by increased administrative centralization. Principals need to know their legal rights and responsibilities in order to survive in the principalship. This book was designed to serve as a practice primer for the…

The major purpose of this book is to help make public school teachers more aware of their legal rights and responsibilities. Five areas of legal importance to teachers are discussed: employment security, student discipline and control, liability for student injury, academic freedom, and collective bargaining. The author uses a question/answer…