The implications and shortcomings of court rulings on negligence in libel laws are explored in this paper. The paper first discusses the particulars of the 1974 landmark "Gertz versus Robert Welch, Inc." United States Supreme Court case, in which the court ruled that private persons as well as public figures would be required to prove…

This publication consists of two articles: "Evaluation in Bilingual Education," by James Burry, and "Desegregation and the Rights of Hispanic Students: The Los Angeles Case," by M. Beatriz Arias. In his paper, Burry used three methods for identifying bilingual evaluation needs. First he reviews Federal/State requirements for…

The first part of the document, "The Three R's: Race, Roll Calls & Real Estate: How the Ohio Legislature Enacted Fair Housing/Desegregation Reforms in 1979," by Peggy Siegel, discusses the efforts of the Ohio General Assembly to study alternatives to busing, and the State's role in reducing racial imbalance in the public schools. The relationship…

This report discusses recent cases involving freedom of the press that have been heard before the Burger court of the United States Supreme Court. The report discerns a trend toward treating the press like an ordinary citizen; this is a reversal of the view of the Warren court that the First Amendment creates special rights for the press so that…

A collection of 12 articles, this yearbook focuses on freedom of speech and censorship. The topics covered include (1) common law tort and contract erosion of the at will rule, (2) the Supreme Court and the First Amendment in 1983-1984, (3) a phenomenological analysis of the First Amendment and the issue of obscenity, (4) John Milton's attack on…

There is a great deal of confusion over the proper relationship of religion to education, and many people believe that Supreme Court decisions have forbidden any mention of God or religion in schools. However, court opinions and other legal statements make it clear that it is legal and desirable to teach about religion in the schools and that the…

Educators and attorneys routinely struggle with the issue of mixing academic evaluation with student discipline, as this summary of litigation reveals. The text opens with a synopsis of academic sanctions for nonattendance and unexcused absences, advising school districts that any grade-reduction policy should have an educational purpose. The…

This report reviews some of the efforts to license news reporters. The review summarizes court litigation concerning city and state legislation and federal efforts to screen or regulate the movements of journalists covering political news events. Highlighting the report are discussions of the United States Secret Service's role in issuing White…

This magazine aims to help high school teachers of civics, government, history, and law and law-related education program developers educate students about legal issues. This volume focuses on culture, law, conflict, and change. The first article, "Trying Beliefs: The Law of Cultural Orthodoxy and Dissent" (J. H. Landman), demonstrates…

Although no lawsuits claiming educational malpractice have yet been successful, it is conceivable that educators and school systems will be held legally accountable for correctly diagnosing pupils' needs, placing them in appropriate instructional programs, and reporting their progress to parents or guardians. This bulletin briefly examines…

Defamation is a common-law claim for liability that encompasses "libel," which is the written form, and "slander," which is the oral form. School principals can be plaintiffs or defendants in defamation suits. Relevant case law provides illustrations of the various elements of defamation for both roles of the principal. Court…

Questions arise about the constitutionality of including some form of prayer, usually an invocation or benediction, in public school graduation ceremonies, and whether such prayer can appropriately be delivered by a minister or other religious leader. The U. S. Supreme Court has not addressed this precise issue, but an analysis of other courts'…

This issue of "Policy Notes" concerns the restructuring of American education during the past quarter-century, with centralization and legalization being the two most noteworthy changes in educational governance. David Kirp claims that the increased control of schooling by state and federal authorities, the elaboration of new…

Focusing on issues in mass communication, the six articles in this journal issue cover many facets and approaches to the topics. The first article offers a review of recent developments in the field and some comments about its future. The second article reviews feminism in comedies from the 1930s and in a current film, and the third analyzes the…

This "Update" discusses the impact of the "Seminole Tribe v. State of Florida" decision on higher education. In essence, the Court in this decision rescinded the doctrine of "Eleventh Amendment immunity" and ruled that Congress has only limited power to enact laws that apply to state governmental entities, including…