The following administrative aspects of scientific experimentation with human subjects are discussed: the definition of human experimentation; the distinction between experimentation and treatment; investigator responsibility; documentation; the elements and principles of informed consent; and the administrator's role in establishing and…

Reports on the American Library Association's 1992 Midwinter Meeting. Topics discussed include the Kreimer v. Morristown case and its possible ramifications for other libraries dealing with homeless and other problem patrons; the White House Conference on Library and Information Services (WHCLIS); National Research and Education Network (NREN);…

Public educators must exercise reasonable care in screening prospective employees. The best way to avoid harm to students (and negligent lawsuits) is to check references carefully to determine a candidate's fitness. This means verifying basic data and scrutinizing past job performance by contacting references familiar with the candidate's work…

Inventions developed at 117 research universities produced $242-million in royalties in fiscal 1993, significantly higher than the previous year. Observers see a maturation of the technology transfer process, in which inventions take some years to arrive on the market. Containing legal costs is a persistent issue for the institutions. (MSE)

Discusses issues involving intellectual property and new digital technologies, including legal, technical, and political issues based on experiences of the European Community. Possible future scenarios are presented; possible solutions are suggested; potential standardization needs are considered; and a list of European Community projects in…

There are numerous vital middle-school programs, including cooperative learning, advisory programs, interdisciplinary curricula, and exploratory activities that can invite costly lawsuits if not properly structured and supervised. Educators should follow district policies and procedures, develop classroom rules for all grade levels, give adequate…

This article recounts the legal battles that ensued when the Saskatchewan (Canada) Minister of Education closed a special school for the deaf. The case, "Trofimenkoff versus Saskatchewan," is analyzed in terms of the plaintiffs' case against closure and decisions against the plaintiffs by the Minister, the Court of the Queen's Bench, and…

Mandating inclusion for all special-needs students would return education to the 1950s, when student options were extremely limited. Full inclusion, requiring the regular education teacher to learn a monumental number of additional skills, may be state-of-the-art education for the 90s--the 1890s. Restricting all students to the same learning…

Considers three areas with special relevance to liability and child therapy: informed consent, confidentiality, and child-abuse reporting laws. In each area, issues that may be confronted in therapy or research on therapy are discussed, and sampling of relevant laws is explored. Considers suggestions for avoiding potential liability and protecting…

In a current Supreme Court case concerning whether a Georgia school district can be released from a 1969 court-supervised desegregation order, some social scientists are resisting a trend by trying to convince the court that mandatory desegregation of schools has proven an effective solution to inequality in racially segregated schools. (MSE)

A college or university thinking of leasing out facilities for an auxiliary activity on campus should consider including a percentage rent provision in the contract, to benefit from increased sales. Issues to consider include definitions and reporting of gross sales, audits of reported sales, and auditing procedures and reporting. (MSE)

Summarizes 10 major difficulties associated with ability grouping, including unfair and inaccurate student placements; the "locked-in" nature of ability grouping; undue emphasis on ability over effort; erosion of self-esteem; racial, ethnic, and income isolation; unequally distributed learning resources; illegal practices; and the need for a…

Shows some of the connections between the social structure of the law and the everyday writing of marketplace participants. Sets out a legal dispute resolution framework and a classification of the types of liability-prone prose. Suggests a rhetorical model that facilitates an expanded perspective of the business writer. Offers an approach for…

A statewide survey in Illinois collected data from homeless education service providers, focusing exclusively on the issues of residency and guardianship as barriers to the education of homeless children and youth. Additionally, remedies to these problems were analyzed and recommendations made. (38 references) (MLF)

Illustrates how the Supreme Court has been divided in its 1989 decisions on affirmative action. Reviews the following cases: City of Richmond v. J.A. Croson Co.; Price Waterhouse v. Hopkins; Wards Cove Packing Company, Inc. v. Antonio; Martin v. Wilks; Lorance v. AT&T Technologies, Inc.; Patterson v. McLean Credit Union; and Jett v. Dallas…