The state of Illinois is apparently considering limiting the ability of the Chicago Teacher's Unions to strike. Illinois is one of several states that, after a bevy of procedural matters are overcome, allows their teachers to go on strike. Here is the Sun Times story which claims a strike might be imminent this year.

Governors yesterday at the National Governor's Assocation meeting in Michigan, met on the issue of online predators (CBS story). While not directly related to school legal responsibilities, much of the talk center about the need for prevention education and parents monitoring their children. This story is worthy of inclusion in the Edjurist because it struck me as one of those issues that could easily wind up becoming a school legal responsibility. One could easily foresee a state curriculum mandate to include training in "Internet safety" from online predators. Below is a picture of Governor Rell of Connecticut and Governor Henry of Oklahoma at the meeting.

Finally, the education questions came in the debate tonight (none of the ones I identified as my favorites by the way). There were some good moments in the questions, although I would have liked for the questions to have been a little more substantive to force the candidates to respond substantively. Of the questions from an education law standpoint, the second question, on NCLB, was probably the best. There was certainly a difference between Governor Bill Richardson (a
governor) and Senator Chris Dodd (a Senator that voted for NCLB the
first time around) - for Dodd's NCLB response you have to go to 2:50 in
the public or private (3rd) question below. Richardson said scrap it, but Dodd said fix it because the accountability provisions were important.

First, who was your favorite teacher and why?


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJ6kH9uBjtQ

Second, a nicely done little music video on NCLB and whether the candidates would scrap it or revise it.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VBur2clylg

Third, would you send your kid to public school or private school?


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uP0xi0vKxNE

Fourth, a question on sex education ... of their own children.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zSCQgCe0uFg

Overall, I liked the You Tube debate and I am looking forward to the education questions to the Republican candidates in a couple of months. I will try to post those too so you can see the contrast in the candidates on education issues.