Reviews a recent Supreme Court decision reaffirming the court's stand on school prayer. The ruling resolves important issues concerning religious activity in public schools but does not address the constitutionality of moment of silence provisions. (MD)

A recent Florida court decision provides an example of a textbook case of an unconstitutionl student search. The key distinction from the "New Jersey vs. TLO" case (a student search found to be constitutional) is that the teacher who searched the students had no reasonable cause. (MD)

A recent North Carolina school board's decision to dismiss a tenured teacher was upheld by the courts. Florida's statewide competency exam was also supported by a federal court. (MD)

A Supreme Court ruling of January 1985 reversed a New Jersey Supreme Court decision of March 1984, which found a student search violated the Fourth Amendment. The reversal by the Supreme Court leaves unanswered some important questions about school searches. (MD)

A federal district court judge in Iowa ruled that an education service agency unreasonably denied equal employment opportunity to a handicapped applicant for a teaching position. The agency based its decision on the candidate's inability to meet physical requirements for job functions that the court held nonessential. (PGD)

Reviews a Pennsylvania higher court decison in which a student sued the school board for reducing her grades as punishment for misconduct during a school outing. The court found in the student's favor. The punishment must fit the crime. (MD)

Three recent cases in Michigan, Alabama, and New Jersey demonstrate that, despite popular and legislative pressure, courts continue to hold firm against efforts to inject religion into public education. (Author/JM)

The Supreme Court issued an unclear decision in "Wygant v. Jackson Board of Education." The case generated five opinions that do not agree on a single set of legal principles to give needed guidance to public officials. Includes discussion of two other cases relating to affirmative action and hiring practices. (MD)

Reviews three recent Supreme Court decisions affecting public aid to private religious schools. The court found that all three cases violated the establishment clause of the First Amendment. (MD)

In "Crockett v. Sorenson" a voluntary public school Bible class was found unconstitutional because of sectarian control of the program, and guidelines for a constitutional Bible course were suggested. "May v. Cooperman" ruled against the constitutionality of the moment of silence, a question not yet addressed by the Supreme…

In "City of Boerne v. Flores, Archbishop of San Antonio," the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the 1993 Religious Freedom Restoration Act. RFRA was not intended to overrule a 1990 Supreme Court decision forbidding use of peyote in Native American religious ceremonies, but to "enforce" 14th-Amendment free-exercise rights. The…

A Pennsylvania case shows that once a school auditorium becomes a designated public forum, the free speech clause of the First Amendment requires the board to allow other similarly situated outsiders (including religious groups) to use the facilities for expressive activity. Another Pennsylvania case involving dual employment upheld a teacher's…

Describes a Circuit Court of Appeals case concerning a middle school principal who was unfairly fired after making a controversial speech on inadequate school finances. Describes a search and seizure case involving a student's possession of a gun and drugs on campus. Urges school boards to know the law before taking action. (MLH)

Discusses the meaning of the federal court reversals on the "Mozert v. Hawkins County Board of Education" and "Smith v. Alabama State Board of Education" cases. (MD)

The recent Supreme Court decision in the employment discrimination case "California Savings and Loan Association v. Guerra" permits employers to treat pregnancy the same as other disabling conditions relating to employment opportunities. Also, state legislatures may mandate preferential treatment for pregnancy. (MD)