New Jersey Supreme Court, in "Abbott v. Burke (Abbott II)," held that state's Public School Education Act of 1975 was unconstitutional. Notes that initial impact of "Abbott II" is to put pressure on legislators to correct funding system; challenge will require educators to overhaul their patterns of behavior in administration,…

This paper examines legislation, court decisions, and state and local policies affecting the use of corporal punishment in schools, and speculates on the particular context presented by small or rural schools. There are no universally applicable federal statutes dealing with corporal punishment in schools. Decisions by the Supreme Court and…

In "Probst," the New Jersey Supreme Court permitted the Board of Education to keep a teacher off the salary schedule in the years following a one-year withheld increment. Explores the "Probst" issue and the way the Court's decision may well affect boards of education and teachers under the recent New Jersey legislation dealing…

Analyzes the recent New Jersey Supreme Court decision in "Scotch Plains" regarding binding arbitration procedures in collective bargaining agreements to settle disputes over the withholding of salary increments. Discusses the events leading up to the case and comments on possible future directions for such cases. (54 footnotes) (MLF)

Focuses on the legal framework that New Jersey has established that allows the state to assume responsibility for operating a school district that has been deemed unable or unwilling to meet minimum educational standards. Identifies some perceived deficiencies in the law and suggests some possible future directions. (71 footnotes) (MLF)

The concept of academic freedom originated in situations related to higher education. Although academic freedom may apply to professors, it is far from clear how, and even why, academic freedom applies to classroom K-12 teachers. This paper treats the balancing of teacher and school district rights in suits brought by teachers who claimed that…