This article provides a tool to help instructors introduce students to the intersection of blogging and employment law. Section II provides source materials on the subject. Specifically, it presents a summary overview of: (1) the development of blogging and other forms of online user generated content; (2) the legality of terminating an at-will…

Outlines two legal cases involving letters of reprimand written by administrators and put in teachers' files. Shows how in these cases the letters did not constitute defamation or a violation of First or Fourteenth Amendment rights. (MD)

The articles collected in this annual address several aspects of First Amendment Law. The following titles are included: "Freedom of Speech As an Academic Discipline" (Franklyn S. Haiman), "Free Speech and Foreign-Policy Decision Making" (Douglas N. Freeman), "The Supreme Court and the First Amendment: 1975-1976"…

In "Connick vs. Myers" the Supreme Court applied a threshold requirement to an employee's First Amendment protection of free speech: speech must be related to public concerns as determined by the content, form, and context of a given statement. Discusses applications of this decision to lower court cases. (MLF)

To consider one aspect of workplace freedom of speech--the question of authority versus freedom, this paper examines the first amendment protections of government workers. The paper looks at freedom of speech rights by using two theoretical frameworks (the natural rights view and the law and economics view) to analyze Supreme Court decisions on…

Teachers and other public employees enjoy the same fundamental rights as other citizens. They are entitled to free speech--though the privilege is not limitless--and to due process and equal protection under the law. (Author/DCS)

The focus of this chapter is on the substantive constitutional protections of the public school employment relationship guaranteed by the First Amendment, particularly freedom of speech, and by the Fourteenth Amendment's right to privacy. Included are burden-of-proof standards required for establishing a prima facie case of denial of these…

A review of 16 Federal Court of Appeals cases indicates the impact of the "Connick v. Myers" case on the nature of freedom of speech in public organizations. The case involved the firing of an assistant district attorney for circulating a job satisfaction survey after she was transferred to a less desirable section of the courts. Since…

Reviews current court cases pertaining to infringements on academic freedom and considers their relationship to arguments concerning tenure. In particular, raises such issues as how the First Amendment protects the academic freedom of faculty and if there are alternative safeguards. Concludes that eliminating tenure would jeopardize academic…

Topics like employment discrimination, personal jurisdiction, first amendment and copyright, are commonly taught in many legal environment and business law courses. Law faculty often seek to find new and interesting vehicles for helping their students to better understand and critically analyze these traditional legal concepts. Today's college…

This guide reviews legal standards inherent in the First Amendment and recommends management techniques that ensure employees' free speech rights while maintaining school efficiency. Section 1, "Introduction," presents an overview of the trend toward litigation in which public employees allege that school officials have violated First…

Eight papers originally presented during the 1981 annual meeting of the National School Boards Association's Council of School Attorneys are collected in this publication. The topics, of interest particularly to school attorneys, include text and library book selection and the First Amendment; the courts' criteria for awarding attorney fees…

The relationship between public schools and their employees is one of the most frequently litigated aspects of American education. Accordingly, the chapters in this text present a comprehensive and current report of legal issues in public school employment. Chapter titles and authors are as follows: (1) "Critical Elements of the Employment…

Decisions made by federal and state courts during 1983 concerning the employment, dismissal, and tenuring of the employees of public agencies--in particular, public schools--are reported in this chapter. The chapter first addresses discrimination in employment based on race, sex, age, or physical limitations and notes that the shifting burden of…

These legal documents and discussions represent a variety of litigations concerning state statutes and federal regulations. Part A, "Preventing a Law Suit," offers suggestions for avoiding employee termination lawsuits and presents documents for teacher evaluation and for teacher termination and grievance hearings. "New and Emerging…