Onomastics, the study of names, may serve to predict the odds of certain individuals to become a party to, and even for the eventual outcome of, litigation. Examples supporting the predictive qualities of onomastics are cited. (MLF)

Reviews the Supreme Court decisions on issues of interest to school districts. Also analyzes cases relevant to public schools that the Court declined to review. Summarizes a number of cases that the Court will hear in its term beginning October 1993 and that may have a major impact on school districts. An appendix lists the cases cited. (MLF)

Examines provisions of the South African Constitution pertaining to pupil rights in conjunction with the construction the United States Supreme Court has placed on corresponding provisions of the U.S. Constitution. (46 footnotes) (MLF)

An annotated outline provides recent case law in special education since the last update in this series. (MLF)

Unanimous U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit upheld the strip search of a student. Since first case was decided in 1973, no other court has been willing to uphold this highly intrusive search method. Asks why the Sixth Circuit is willing to set aside what has been the concern of the judiciary for the past several decades. (MLF)

An annotated outline provides recent case law in special education. (MLF)

The Supreme Court in "Lamb's Chapel" unanimously reversed federal district and court of appeals decisions that had upheld school district rules prohibiting use of school district property "by any group for religious purposes." Discusses three issues within the context of religious speech: establishment of religion, free speech,…

Records of administrative hearings and court cases involving the expulsion of disabled students characteristically discuss the "Relationship Test" that generally inquires whether or not a misbehavior is related to--or is a manifestation of--a student's disability. Traces the source of the Relationship Test, discusses issues arising from…

The Supreme Court's ruling in "Missouri versus Jenkins" signalled a further retrenchment in the struggle to end racial segregation in the schools. The majority held that the federal district court exceeded the bounds of its broad discretion in its mandated desegregation remedy. Reviews the Court's holding in detail and reflects on the…

Children with specialized health care needs often require educational personnel to provide the necessary health-care service. Reviews the following: range of health-related services; assessment of services as medical in nature; inconsistent standards for delivery of related services in Ohio; and standard of care required of nonmedical personnel.…

The "Bishop v. Aronov" case concerned an administrator's right to prohibit a professor's religious speech during class at a public university. According to the Eleventh Circuit, the university classroom is not considered a public forum; professors as public employees may be subject to restrictions placed on their curriculum. (87…

To ascertain the knowledge level and congruent practices among public college and university student-personnel administrators relating to reported court decisions based on the First Amendment religious clauses, questionnaires were sent to a sample of 250 administrators. Responses from 169 (68%) of the administrators are analyzed. (MLF)

Summarizes two cases involving grade-school children presenting religious materials in the classroom: "Duran v. Nitsche" and "DeNooyer v. Livonia Public Schools." Advises teachers that parents who send their children to public schools have the right under the Establishment Clause to expect instruction that is free from…

The Texas supreme court upheld the constitutionality of Senate Bill 7 in a case referred to as "Edgewood IV." Three previous laws enacted to reduce fiscal disparities among Texas's school districts had been ruled unconstitutional by the Texas supreme Court. Summarizes the relationship between the legislation, the litigants, and the legal…

Because school lockers are potential hiding places for weapons and drugs, some schools are eliminating them. Searching student lockers on a random basis raises legal questions. Examines the legality of random locker searches based upon the guidelines for student searches set forth by the Supreme Court in "New Jersey v. T.L.O." and lower…