Teachers and the Law - Softcover

Louis Fischer (J.D. and Ph.D., Stanford University) is Professor Emeritus and former dean

of the School of Education at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

David Schimmel (J.D., Yale University) David Schimmel is Professor Emeritus at the University of Massachustts, Amherst and Visiting Professor at Harvard University's Graduate School of Education. He is author of over 60 articles and co-author of six books about law and education including School Law: What Every Educator Should Know (2008) and is recipient of the Education Press Association of America's Distinguished Achievement Award for Excellence in Educational Journalism.  After graduating from Yale Law School, he briefly practiced law, was an Army Infantry Officer, and served on the Peace Corps staff for six years before starting his teaching career at UMass.  His current research and writing focuses on promoting legal literacy for teachers.

Leslie R. Stellman (J.D., Syracuse University) Leslie Robert Stellman is the team leader of the education law department of Maryland’s largest school law firm, Hodes, Pessin & Katz, P.A., located in Towson, Maryland.  Mr. Stellman has been practicing education law for over 35 years and represents many of Maryland’s public school boards as well as colleges and universities.  He received his Bachelor’s degree from the Johns Hopkins University and his Juris Doctor from the Syracuse University College of Law, magna cum laude.  Mr. Stellman is widely known as an author, lecturer, professor, and practitioner in all aspects of school law, and is a member of the Education Law Association and the National Association of Boards of Education’s Council of School Attorneys.  He is also on the faculties of the Johns Hopkins University School of Education and the University of Baltimore College of Law. 

Teachers and the Law is written utilizing a unique question and answer format. With the use of engaging and accessible language, the text provides a comprehensive overview of the topics future educators need to know in order to be legally literate and to practice preventative law. Focusing on legal issues such as sexual harassment, freedom of speech, in-school prayer, rights of gay students, child abuse and neglect, affirmative action, home schooling, defamation, and due process, all topics that reflect current trends essential to the success of educators in the 21st century. In addition to these issues, the text analyzes the major laws affecting education today such as the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB), Title IX, the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), and certain copyright laws that apply to classroom and to distance learning.

New to this edition:  

• Updated to reflect current trends and decisions that are important to educators including teachers’ controversial postings on the internet, the Teacher Liability Protection Act, peer sexual harassment, cyber bulling, and free speech.
• Focuses on the recent decisions affecting affirmative action, special education and the No Child Left Behind Act.
• Includes the latest cases from both state and federal courts that are relevant to administrators, teachers and students.
• Expands to two chapters the topic of freedom of expression due to increased litigation.   One chapter now focuses on teachers’ rights while the second new chapter pertains to students’ rights.