Unlike earlier cases, in Givhan the Supreme Court has accepted for consideration a case in which a teacher was dismissed for private rather than public speech. (IRT)

Reviews "Bethel School District vs. Fraser," a case in which a student was suspended for presenting an "indecent" speech to his school's student body. Lower courts found the student's First Amendment rights violated, but the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to hear the case suggests these rights may be reexamined. (PGD)

If a teacher decides to make a statement that is not destructive of the school's operations in private to an administrator, the teacher may be restrained or punished if the statement is made in a manner, time, or place that interferes with the "regular operation of the schools." (Author/IRT)

Reports on an interview with John Tinker of the "Tinker" case, which set the precedent for freedom of speech for students. (IRT)

Reviews the split decision of the U.S. Supreme Court in June 1981 that upheld the authority of the Minnesota State Fair to restrict the fairground solicitation activities of the Krishna religious sect. Discusses the relevance of the case to schools and colleges that constantly face problems concerning First Amendment rights. (Author/WD)

Discusses a case in which the courts upheld the school district's policies concerning the content of student publications. Concludes that perhaps the time has come that the schools can enforce rules that not only serve the legitimate interests of the schools, but also provide adequate protection for student rights. (Author/IRT)

Reviews a recent court decision in Nebraska regarding the cancellation of a controversial film on the University of Nebraska campus. The film was cancelled after a state senator threatened to close the theater if the movie was shown. The lawsuit alleged the university violated the First Amendment in cancelling the film; the judge ruled for the…

Argues that an April 20, 1983, United States Supreme Court decision upholding the discharge of a former New Orleans assistant district attorney may have negative consequences for the free speech rights of public employees, including teachers. (JBM)

Actions taken by the U.S. Supreme Court in two cases during December of 1981 tend to confirm that there is a difference in constitutional standards between K-12 and higher education when determining the rights of students to conduct prayer meetings and worship services on the premises of public institutions. (Author)

A district court decision that the firing of a bisexual counselor violated free speech and equal protection of the law was reversed by the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals. Although the United States Supreme Court declined to review the case, Justices Brennan and Marshall wrote dissenting opinions claiming unresolved constitutional issues. (MLF)

This is a guidebook for teachers in the public elementary and secondary schools on the subject of their legal rights. While public education is a state function, governed by laws, authority is delegated to local school boards. Areas in which a teacher may come in conflict with the governing body of the school are described. Freedom of speech, in…

This paper argues that courts have tended to identify and enforce individual rights at the expense, in many instances, of the ability of school boards and legislatures to carry out what they perceive to be the will of the majority of voters in their jurisdictions. The trend emphasizing individual rights began in 1954 with the Supreme Court…

This booklet provides an overview of the changes in the area of student rights in recent years. Most of these changes have been mandated by the courts and cover such areas as discrimination, student records, searches, religion in the schools, freedom of speech and assembly, suspension, and expulsion. The author holds that in the future there will…