In 1994, about 60 to 70% of Americans supported parental spanking. This paper examines student misbehavior, school discipline, prevention, treatment, and punishment in U.S. society Currently, 23 states still allow paddling in schools, and most states do not allow the spanking of foster children. As of 1994, all but a few of the national…

Distance Education and Training Council (DETC) members must realize that sound admissions policies are the first step toward high quality education. DETC members should be willing to examine the need for qualification-based admissions policies like those used by "traditional" schools. Admission is critical to outcomes assessment because…

This document is the final report of a commission charged with developing recommendations towards reforming intercollegiate athletics. It summarizes the reforms already in place and the challenges still to be addressed. The opening section notes the dramatic change in public perception of college athletics that have taken place over the 3 years…

This digest is based on a full-length report (with the same title) on advisory committees to universities and colleges. Under decreased resources and increased pressures for more accountability, advisory committees are an effective way for colleges and universities to connect with their environments. An advisory committee is a group of volunteers…

This report addresses the advisory committee's role in the administration of institutions of higher education. Under decreased resources and increased pressures for more accountability, advisory committees are an effective way to help connect universities and colleges to their environments. Advisory committees may range from those that consult to…

Educators need to be aware of sex discrimination in their schools and of the legislation that prohibits it, because it entails costs, liabilities, impact, and responsibilities for every educator. The obvious and direct costs are attorney fees, awarded damages, and settlement costs. Other, less obvious costs are unfavorable publicity, erosion of a…

This paper presents the findings of a 4-year study that examined 225 cases of alleged sexual abuse of students by teachers. Data were collected through interviews with 225 superintendents who had dealt with incidences of sexual abuse--184 in New York State and 41 in other states. An analysis of 10 of these cases included interviews with…

This booklet is designed to assist faculty members in serving on promotion and tenure committees. Part 1 focuses on the general process and the role of the Promotion and Tenure Committee. It provides basic principles for Committee members to consider, raises significant issues, and introduces a comprehensive approach to documenting and assessing…

This brief report summarizes a longer document with the same title in the ASHE-ERIC Higher Education Report series. Academic freedom provides the foundation for faculty scholarship and teaching, making it possible for educators to exchange ideas and concepts freely in the classroom, to explore and disseminate new knowledge, and to speak out both…

This report synthesizes the literature and applicable case law concerning academic freedom in higher education and addresses the following issues: (1) popular notions concerning academic freedom; (2) whether academic freedom is a legal right; (3) whether faculty at private institutions have the same rights as faculty in public schools; and (4)…

This study examined the impact of the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in University of Pennsylvania v. EEOC as it applies to tenure/promotion practices and the disclosure of peer evaluation information. The 1990 decision ordered the university to turn over confidential tenure files to the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) pursuant…

A questionnaire to find out to what degree graduate schools of social work and their designated leaders support the legal regulation of social work practice was mailed to all directors/deans of accredited schools of social work offering a master's degree program in the United States. The return rate was 81%. Findings show that relatively few…

THE FOLLOWING IS THE FULL TEXT OF THIS DOCUMENT: Truancy sweeps, a cooperative effort of the high school district, Santa Maria Police Department, and Santa Barbara Sheriff's Department, gave us a valuable insight. The sweeps, unannounced to the public but coordinated by high school assistant principals and law enforcement agencies, were part of a…

What happens when the parents and teachers of a neighborhood school are given the opportunity to govern that school - to make decisions about policy, about staff, about educational philosophy? This article is an exciting account of what it really means to trust local individuals to do a responsible job. (Editor)

In this article, the author, who was one of the plaintiffs' counsel in the litigation of Morgan v. Hennington, examined the factual and legal bases of the federal district court's opinion. (Editor/RK)