When you finish studying this chapter, you should be able to:
- Describe the organization and functioning of the state and federal court
systems.
- Identify the ways state and federal laws affect school district policies
and classroom teaching.
- Identify and describe teachers' most important rights with respect to certification
and teacher testing; tenure, contracts, and probation; dismissal and due process;
negotiation and strikes; protection against assault; freedom of expression;
and academic freedom.
- Identify and describe teachers' most important responsibilities with respect
to general exemplary behavior, tort liability and negligence, reporting of
child abuse, and copyright laws.
- Identify and describe students' most important rights with respect to freedom
of expression, suspension and expulsion, protection from violence, search
and seizure, academic testing, classroom discipline and corporal punishment,
sexual harassment, and student records.
- Identify and describe students' most important responsibilities, as well
as general limitations on their behavior in schools.
- Identify and analyze issues and court decisions regarding religious activities
in public schools, religious objections to curriculum, and public support
for nonpublic schools.
Focus and Refocus Questions:
When you finish studying this chapter, you should be able to answer the following
questions from your textbook:
Focus Questions
- What legal rights and responsibilities do teachers have?
- What are the legal rights of students?
- Can religious activities be conducted in the public schools?
- Can the government assist nonpublic schools?
Refocus Questions
- Does the material in Chapter 12 suggest to you anything you should be cautious
about as a teacher? What topics do you think you should study more to make
sure you do not violate the law but can also defend your rights as a teacher?
- Do you think controversies involving church and state will affect you directly
as a teacher? Which aspects are most relevant in your subject field? What
difficulties or challenges that relate to religion might arise in schools
in your community?
