School Law

School Law can be seen as the protection for the teacher and the student. It is like an umbrella that covers both parties. There are two amendments from the constitution that are the central focus when it comes to School Law. The first and the fourth amendments both are dealing with the freedom of speech and freedom of religion. Teacher’s roles are to be professionals. They have the rights and responsibilities when it comes to dealing with child abuse, how they handle their private lives, their job as a teacher, copyright laws, and their own liability. When the students are under a teacher’s care, they are in place of the parents or what is called in loco parentis.  Teachers are to remain neutral when it comes to religion. Prayer in schools is prohibited by the law, but students have the right to pray as long as it does not affect those around them. There can be religious groups that use the school building for clubs, etc. Religious curriculum may be used as long as it for historical purposes. Student’s rights are just as important as the teachers. Students have the freedom speech. There is permissible search and seizure, where school officials may search student lockers if they have probable cause. They have the right to privacy of their records. In some states corporal punishment still exists, and this still can be a very tricky matter. The issue of AIDS is not as strong as it was in the 1980s, but today there cannot be the discrimination of someone with an illness or disability.

            I believe the majority of educators don’t know about the laws that exist to protect them and their students. What if part of the Educational Degree it was required that the future educator had to take a class to cover this core curriculum of School Law? The knowledge that is gained could save many people a lot of time, frustration and heart ache. The teachers who decide to engage in sexual activity with their under age students might think twice about proceeding with that following action!