An English professor answers the most difficult questions from people who would censor school reading materials. The "secular humanism" controversy has provoked such diverse moral and legal meanings that librarians often avoid book selections. Educators can make informed decisions about good literature, even if the reality depicted appears…

Evaluates the Supreme Court's decisions relating to education during the past few years and the effect that the retirement of Justice Lewis Powell will have on the balance of the Supreme Court. Discusses nominee Robert Bork and his possible effect if he becomes a member of the Supreme Court. (MD)

Outlines U.S. District Court Judge Kovachevich's decision to return the Ray boys in Desoto County, Florida, to the classroom. These three children, Randy, Richard, and Robert, are hemophiliacs who have been exposed to the disease Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. They had been excluded from the classrooms and came to national attention as a…

The U.S. Supreme Court is applying a new legal standard in court actions involving students' constitutional rights. Instead of basing decisions on the "substantial interference" argument, the Court is giving school officials broad latitude to structure an environment in which students can both learn and develop "socially appropriate…

Reviews proceedings in "Mozert v. Hawkins County," in which the Sixth Circuit Court found that Holt reading series used by Hawkins County Public Schools caused the plaintiff students to "forfeit a free public education." Implications of this court decision are discussed. The judge narrowed the scope of the decision to the…

Reaction of educators to court decision in "Mozert v. Hawkins County" should be tempered with common sense and flexibility. In his research on basal readers and textbooks, Paul Vitz found a distorted presentation of family life, neglect of the role of religion in contemporary American life, and neglect of patriotism, business, labor, and…

The concept "in loco parentis" is discussed in relation to its historical place in education and its current status. The doctrine has expanded from its original idea of "restraint and correction" to figure significantly in court cases involving corporal punishment, student searches, school rules, correlative duties, and…

Discusses "Mozert v. Hawkins," pointing out four important factors in the case, and shows the reasonable and reasoned way the judge's final decision was made. (MD)

Presents a historical, national, and legal overview of home schooling. Reviews official responses and constitutional limits on state regulation and offers suggestions on ways that public educators and home-schoolers can improve their relationship. Recommends that public officials take initial steps to bridge the communication gap. (CJH)

Tenured faculty are normally terminated only for just cause. In "Milbouer v. Keppler," however, an Idaho district court upheld faculty members' discharge when Boise State University declared a financial exigency. Examination shows that this definition of financial exigency derived from budget reductions that affected small program…

Describes two recent court cases that demonstrate the difficulty of balancing the emphasis on drug detection with the privacy rights of students. Concludes that school officials should not be quick to assume that reasonable suspicion exists. (IW)

Reviews a recent court decision in Nebraska regarding the cancellation of a controversial film on the University of Nebraska campus. The film was cancelled after a state senator threatened to close the theater if the movie was shown. The lawsuit alleged the university violated the First Amendment in cancelling the film; the judge ruled for the…

In the 1986 Maine court decision "True v. Ladner," a school superintendent was found guilty of slander for a teacher recommendation. Many school attorneys are now advising superintendents and school officials not to provide references for former employees. If this becomes widespread the process of screening applicants for teaching…

Describes a complex case involving termination of a third-grade teacher with recurrent tuberculosis. The United States Supreme Court upheld a circuit court's ruling that the teacher's condition satisfied section 504 of the 1973 Rehabilitation Act protecting handicapped persons against discrimination. Since contagiousness was not addressed, the…

To halt "white flight" to the suburbs occurring since a 1969-70 court decision imposed cross-town busing, neighborhood schools should be reinstated. The board's decision was challenged by the United States District Court, upheld by the U.S. Court of Appeals (Fourth Circuit), and may become a Supreme Court case. (MLH)