Summarizes a complex sex abuse case in a Texas district that turned on a teacher's failure to report a coach's misdeeds to the proper authorities. The appeals court, which found for the teacher, concluded that the missing ingredient was control. The child-abuse reporting statute did not empower a teacher with legal control over the coach's…

School districts must properly manage volunteers to protect children from negligent behavior. Districts can reduce the risk of using volunteers by developing volunteer-management policies and procedures; maintaining adequate liability insurance; developing descriptions of volunteer responsibilities; screening interested persons; and providing…

Reports that universities are citing a 26-year-old federal law, the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA), to withhold information about teaching assistants from the unions trying to organize them. The graduate students say FERPA is being misapplied to squelch their organizing drives. Both students and administrators are quoted…

Before abused children can heal and learn effectively, the problem causing the trauma must be recognized and identified, and proper legal issues must be addressed. Through various local, state, and federal mechanisms, U.S. society has provided a process for reporting suspected child abuse and crafting a positive solution. (Contains 28 references.)…

Presents an innovative approach to resolution of faculty employment disputes at institutions of higher education. Discusses the framework in which faculty employment issues arise, the current state of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) as it is relevant to employment disputes, and the substantial benefits which could be achieved by developing a…

Discusses the role of collegiality in college personnel tenure decisions. No court has held that the use of collegiality in tenure decisions is inappropriate, but judicial conflicts arise as to whether collegiality has been invoked in a manner that is discriminatory or that violates free speech. (Author/SLD)

Suggests the rights of high school students to access and use their schools' Internet resources are confusing and complicated. Discusses authorized user policies, freedom of expression, and the Internet as a library. Concludes that until the Supreme Court establishes a legal precedent, students, parents, administrators, and teachers are left the…

Asserts that although employees are bringing legal cases across the spectrum of discriminatory behaviors, lawyers who advise higher education see two particular areas of concern right now: age discrimination and retaliation against complaints. Discusses what business officers need to understand in order to prevent nightmare legal problems. (EV)

Describes four legally sensitive scenarios involving student access to the Internet and recommends appropriate strategies to assist principals in reducing exposure to legal action. (PKP)

This case explores the areas of public accounting/auditing and business law as they relate to the conduct of an employee who intentionally and unlawfully obtains, and, negotiates for his own benefit, his employer's negotiable instruments (checks). In particular, this case involves an accountant who unlawfully acquired negotiable instruments,…

This article provides a general overview of the disciplinary process for nurses. It also outlines at least one example of an alternative, often called a diversion program, to the standard disciplinary process. It urges school nurses to obtain legal counsel when responding to an inquiry from the board of nursing and discusses several factors to…

This research analyzed the most widely used foundations of education textbooks for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) content. Because foundations of education coursework routinely introduces other diversity topics in education, the authors hold it is a good place to introduce LGBT topics. The ways in which LGBT topics are included in…

There is a drug crisis in the United States that is growing at an alarming rate. Its participants work in our businesses, government agencies, and schools. California leads the nation in drug use and until recently, Fresno County was the leader in methamphetamine production. This drug crisis is having a paralyzing effect causing loss of income,…

When Lars Ulrich, drummer for the rock group Metallica, testified before Congress about his group's lawsuit against Napster in 2000, many people who followed copyright issues in the music industry were not surprised (Ulrich, 2000). Ever since downloading audio files became as easy as clicking a few buttons on a personal computer, charges of…

This article examines current issues related to the topic of college student suicide and why it continues to be an issue of major concern. The nature/extent of the problem, risk and protective factors, responses to college student suicide, legal issues, and training issues are discussed. The importance of addressing the issue of college student…