Friday Snippets 05/02/08 - Teachers and Bikinis and Keeping their Jobs
Friday, May 2, 2008 at 11:20AM
Justin Bathon in Church-State, Disabilities-IDEA, Discipline, Finance, Policy-NCLB, Teacher-Rights



Little lighter this week as I was out of town.



Evolution Update: Florida, Louisiana



A little more Jena 6 fallout.



Idaho's District Court is reconsidering what to do to force changes in Idaho's school funding system.



Sometimes the school finance lawsuits pay off handsomely.

An anti-bullying bill in Florida passed the legislature and is expected to be signed by the Governor. BullyPolice calls it the "BEST Anti-Bullying Law written to date" and has the text.



Massachusetts comes out with a new anti-bullying guide.



However, Louisiana's anti-bullying bill hits a roadblock.



Minnesota's House passes an age appropriate, mandatory sex education plan.



Principals have to answer questions in Illinois over their bilingual education programs ... or lack thereof.



Illinois Legislators are protecting your children from the Internet (they think).



Turf v. Grass - Give me the grass.



Scott McLeod sends over the latest hot teacher lifestyle firing. Teacher wears bikini on a fishing charter ... fired. (video)



Scott also has a tennis coach blindfolding students,
putting them in the middle of the court, and ordering the rest of the
team to fire tennis balls at them. Ahh, coaches. Constant legal issues
with them.



And around the blogosphere:

I want to start with Jim Gerl's request for information on the connection between special education due process usage and poverty.
I think Jim is right that there is a connection there and a little
research could probably document it. If I were not so busy Jim I would
look into it with you. Maybe later this year or next year. Anyway, Jim
has hit on a really good research project here and if anyone wants to
help I am sure he would appreciate it.

What I consider the big news of the week is that the Sixth Circuit is going to rehear en banc their NCLB decision. Mark Walsh has the details.
When that decision came down you had to know this was a big
possibility, so now we will see what the full Sixth Circuit has to say.
My guess is that they will go the other way.

Mark also has the end of the Connecticut NCLB challenge & BoardBuzz reflects on the branches of government that are making educational law ... and the one (legislature) that is not.

Karl Romberger gives thoughts on ability grouping in Pennsylvania.

Erin Buzuvis questions the application of Gebser to athletics. The Title IX Blog also has a link to a new study out of Israel that finds co-educational classrooms benefit everyone.



The Higher Ed Law Prof Blog is getting annoyed that teachers continue to be fired for refusing to sign loyalty oaths.



The Adjunct Law Prof Blog has more professors suing students. (Now that I am switching teams ... it sounds fine to me.) Mitchell also has blogs being incorporated into law classes.



Pamela Parker wonders what happened to May Day in Texas schools.



Kevin Carey has the fall of vouchers.



Jonathan Adler at the Volokh Conspiracy calls the recent anti-evolution academic freedom tact academic fraud.



Howard Friedman has a settlement in the case of religious art restrictions in school.





And for your Friday Fun ... you can check out pictures of the house I just bought (more).
It backs to a school, which I like, although I am not sure how I am
going to keep my son off the playground equipment. Also, if anyone
loves to refinish hardwood floors and doesn't mind driving to Lexington
...

Google Document Link: Friday Snippets 05/02/08

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