Profiles Lina Gomez, a social worker and Title I case manager who works in a Southwest border town and helps immigrant families obtain food and clothing, understand their legal rights, review rental and employment contracts, utilize Head Start services, and deal with arrest and deportation processes. The rationale for educating undocumented…

To help educators understand their legal responsibilities when supervising students, this article reviews the elements of negligence (duty, breach, injury, and causation) an injured party must prove to hold an educator or school system legally accountable. The article also reviews basic defenses to negligence: immunity, comparative/contributory…

Children react to divorce and custody battles with powerful emotions. Schools can mitigate classroom effects of family breakups by recognizing and responding to children's feelings and by involving both parents in a child's school life via newsletters, conferences, and progress reports. Principals should form coalitions with community groups, lure…

University hospitals came into existence as an ancillary activity, providing future physicians with important educational experiences, then became established as an expected part of the institution. Technological advances and rising costs caused universities to sell hospitals, potentially changing their role in the educational system. Universities…

Reports on a survey concerning thirteen recommended sexual harassment preventive/protective practices at U.S. colleges and universities. A majority of responding institutions had formal sexual harassment policies, offered counseling to student victims, and investigated all complaints. Relatively fewer schools provided student access to faculty…

The only way to improve schools is to ensure that faculties judge local work using authentic standards and measures. Concrete benchmarks are needed that obviate both eccentric teacher grading and simplistic standardized testing. A school has standards when it adopts high, consistent expectations of all learners in all courses. Includes 11…

The life estate gift annuity program, which can benefit both the donor and the institution of higher education, is explained; the legal aspects are discussed; and the potential advantages and disadvantages to both parties are outlined. (MSE)

Overseas travel-study programs can be rewarding experiences for students and teachers, but consideration must be given to the sponsoring organizations' credibility and liability. Because of liability problems, the number and type of educational travel opportunities are increasing, while the number of schools sponsoring overseas programs is…

Defines psychological maltreatment of children. Discusses the damage done to children as a result of abusive behavior encountered at the school. Examines situations in which either peers or educators are perpetrators. Discusses the ethical implications for counselors. (BH)

Responds to Lynda Neese's "Psychological Maltreatment in Schools: Emerging Issues for Counselors." Discusses the legal system's lack of involvement in instances of psychological maltreatment and the implications for school counselors. (BH)

A discussion of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 concerning responsibility for toxic waste disposal looks at college and university liability under the act, institutional defenses that could be raised under the act, and the settlement process. (MSE)

A college student was seriously injured in an automobile accident following an off-campus picnic where beer was consumed. The court of appeals absolved the college of liability. Argues that the judgment was in error and that the university-student relationship was a special relationship giving rise to a duty of care. (MLF)

A 1994 survey of 55 middle and 32 high school principals in central Missouri revealed that peer sexual harassment is a common occurrence and that 67% of schools had no relevant policy. Administrators should draft a clear policy with help from students and parents, publicize the policy, and investigate all student complaints. (MLH)

Student-on-student violence raises important issues about how students can use the courts to redress the wrongs they suffer. Some victims file a claim in Federal court under Section 1983 of Title 42 of the United States Code. Examines three theories of liability under Section 1983 as they relate to violence among students in public schools. (MLF)

Recent research revealed that most school lunches exceed the dietary guidelines for fat content. After explaining the resulting Healthy Kids School Meals Initiative which will overhaul the National School Lunch Program meal pattern, the article makes suggestions of how parents can help their school food service sell more nutritious food. (SM)