This book is designed to promote legal literacy for public school teachers. It examines a wide range of constitutional, statutory, and case law that directly affects their work. Its purpose is to provide teachers with the knowledge necessary to comply with the law, assert their rights, and bring violations to the attention of administrators and colleagues. The chapters in Part I, "The Legal Aspects of Teaching," address questions related to teacher contracts, dismissals, tenure, collective bargaining, liability, defamation, and copyright law. Part II, "Teachers' and Students' Rights," explores legal issues related to the personal freedoms of expression, religion and conscience, association, personal appearance, due process, and privacy. Protection against racial and sexual discrimination is covered, as well as rights related to school records, compulsory schooling, and handicapped and bilingual students. Appendices contain selected provisions of the U.S. Constitution, excerpts from state and federal laws relating to education, and essays on major civil rights laws and education in the American legal system. Also appended are a glossary, a list of legal resources, and edited Supreme Court cases on education. (JD)