School districts are facing a sensationalized and alarming trend of unprofessional conduct and social media misuse by public school teachers. Likewise, recent court cases as well as highly publicized scandals raise concern that inappropriate relationships between teachers and students can be initiated through online social media. These emergent…

This article investigates the issues surrounding teachers' use of social networking media and their First Amendment rights. It focuses on the need to develop a school district policy outlining specific guidelines for the use of technology and social networking. It also focuses on the changing world of technology and social networking as well as…

The trial in Ward Churchill's lawsuit against the University of Colorado got under way here last week with lawyers for the opposing sides painting starkly different pictures of both the controversial ethnic-studies professor and the circumstances surrounding his dismissal by the university in 2007. In delivering their opening remarks in a crowded…

The primary objective of a school district's teacher evaluation system is to improve teachers' performance so they can become successful and contribute to the objectives of the district. If the evaluation does not produce this positive result, the teacher must be replaced, either by resignation or termination. The district's evaluation system thus…

This paper discusses court cases in which teachers allege constitutional violations of their First and Fourteenth Amendment rights. The cases represent a struggle between those forces representing the authority of the board of education to govern public schools and those advocating the individual rights of teachers to continue their employment in…

Based on research conducted at Mississippi State University, Meridian (Mississippi) Public Schools, and Vicksburgh Public Schools, the intent of this study was to determine the general state of due process procedures in the practices of school officials throughout the southern region. All cases involving teacher dismissal in the Fifth Circuit…

The Principal's Legal Handbook contains information and recommendations for practice in four areas. Section 1, "Students and the Law," yields interesting and informative answers on a number of issues related to students and the law: recent issues in schools relative to students' rights; the use of technology; and the latest case law and…

In Rampey v. Allen faculty members and administrators sued an Oklahoma state college alleging nonrenewal of their contracts abridged their freedom of expression and due process rights. The author examines the circuit court decision in their favor determining that it was a step forward in defining the boundaries of academic freedom. (JT)

Discusses several defamation cases involving school executives' written or spoken statements about terminated employees' performance and qualifications. Pays special attention to lawsuits hinging on administrators' and board members' informal remarks about school employees, outlining permissible behaviors and suggesting ways to avoid defamation…

Contends that the issue of whether public school teachers may wear religious garb while teaching is no longer a debatable topic. Argues that wearing religious garb may unduly influence students and therefore violates the separation of church and state. Concludes that teachers must set an example of tolerance and should not wear religious garb…

Describes a recent court decision in which a school board and the superintendent did not support a teacher when he came under fire from the community for teaching a controversial subject. The teacher won his case against the district because it had violated the academic freedom rule and denied the teacher due process.(MD)

Discusses the case of Muslim and Sikh teachers who were dismissed because they refused to refrain from wearing traditional religious clothing at school. Reviews religious garb statutes in several states in relation to First Amendment rights and a pluralistic society. Concludes that religious dress is protected by freedom of expression guarantees.…

Disagreements over teachers' First Amendment, academic-freedom rights in curricular contexts are again receiving judicial attention. Two federal cases involving termination of exemplary high-school drama and creative-writing teachers have upheld school boards' authority to control curriculum context in disagreements over permissable subject matter…

America's legal-educational history is filled with scores of cases of alleged radical teachers who have been legally excluded or removed from public school positions. Only a few of these cases have involved the First Amendment issue of inclass utterances by radicals. Such cases are significant because they highlight the established society's…

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…