Analysis of two recent federal court cases in which principals violated student speech rights offers guidance to middle school administrators as they attempt to address student expression. Characteristics of a successful school from the Association for Middle Level Education provide a framework for analyzing these cases in order to prevent…

Purpose: A significant and growing body of LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer) research examines the experiences of students, employees, and the substance of leadership training. This project aims to complement this work by taking a macro-level look at the broader legal and policy issues that may constrain or enhance a school…

Principals and other educators often have perceptions about key issues in school law that are remarkably wrong. When that is the case, they help reinforce those prevailing perceptions by sharing them with teachers, parents, and other administrators, and by contributing to misguided practices and policies. Where do educators get such…

Student speech has and continues to be a contested issue in schools. The Supreme Court ruled in "Tinker" that students do not shed their rights at the schoolhouse gate; in the "Kuhlmeier" and "Fraser" decisions, however, the Court gave school officials greater latitude in regulating student speech, especially when it…

This paper describes the struggles of a teacher educator to acknowledge and honor her own liberal bias along with her students' more conservative perspectives as these emerge in an education law class for preservice teachers. It illustrates the author's ongoing transition from rationalization to reflection, as she considers both her students'…

Landmark cases have shaped the way present American public schools function. Because of this, one would wonder what influences brought about those landmark cases and this study shows a strong relationship between those cases and events which happened in social history. The language of those cases has also been a factor in public schools because of…

This third edition expands coverage on such topics as the law and students with disabilities, confidentiality, sexual harassment, student searches and tuition vouchers. It also includes some new topics such as bullying, copyright law, and the law and the internet. Both public and nonpublic school educators are aware that courts, over the last…

The Internet is a valuable educational tool being utilized in many classrooms today. However, Internet and computer policies restrict and limit how the Internet and computer can be used in a school. An Internet and computer policy typically limits students to use the Internet and computer for educational purposes. If a student violates this policy…

Argues that school policies of "zero tolerance" of threatening speech may violate a student's First Amendment right to freedom of expression if speech is less than a "true threat." Suggests a two-step analysis to determine if student speech is a "true threat." (PKP)

The Praeger Handbook of American High Schools contains entries that explore the topic of secondary schools in the United States. Entries are arranged alphabetically and cover topics as varied as assessment to the history of the American high school, from attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder to gay and straight student alliances, from the No…

Analyzes the unwillingness of the federal courts to view the traditional braided hairstyle worn by American Indian students as worthy of protection under the Tinker "symbolic speech" doctrine. Examines the legacy of the Tinker doctrine for Indian students and presents an argument for expanding this precedent. (Author/MLF)

A student was disqualified from running for a high school office because he had used "The Safe Choice" as his campaign motto and handed out condoms with that slogan. Argues that the court in "Henerey" overlooks the test in "Tinker" that expressing opinions on controversial subjects is acceptable as long as the speech…

Explores the educational and legal questions extending from the judiciary's intervention into the student disciplinarian relationship, among them, the post-Tinker developments in student discipline procedures are traced. (Author/AM)

The late 1960's have seen teachers and students gain rights in school that they had not had before. No longer can the administrator and the school board act as their own lawyer. (Author/WM)