A boy in your sixth grade class was just elected class president. During his acceptance speech, he said, among other things, "I am a person who is firm . . . firm in character and firm in my clothing. .. . I will go to the very end, even the climax, for each and every one of you." When students (both boys and girls) in your class heard this, some giggled, some just sat still and some paid no attention. Which law(s) should you consult to decide what your responsibility is in this situation? What are the consequences teachers face if they ignore these statements? Law Case Study 4 Sandi's parents have been divorced since she was five years old. She is now seven. She lives with her mother and visits her father every other weekend. He brings her to school on Monday mornings following his weekend visitations. Last year, Sandi was diagnosed with diabetes. She is required to stick to a very strict diet. You noticed that on Mondays following her weekend visits with her father, Sandi is hungry, tired, and unable to concentrate and has even passed out at her desk. Upon talking to Sandi, you learn that when she is with her father, he feeds her all kinds of food, like candy and soda pop, which is not on her diabetic diet. What is the teacher's responsibility in this situation? What are the consequences to the teacher for not acting appropriately? Law Case Study 5 You have just completed a summer course on using poetry in the classroom. You are really excited about what you have learned and want to incorporate it into your classes. You decide that instead of using your usual textbooks, you will download poems off of the Internet, copy poems from various books and magazines, and put them into a packet for your students to read and study. Your colleagues see the packet and ask if they can make copies as well. You all decide to make this a regular unit and use the packet every year. What law(s) do you need to consider when doing this? What guidelines do you need to follow? Law Case Study 6 The principal at your school decides to retire, and several well-qualified teachers on the staff apply for the position. Mr. England has been teaching for four years and has his administrator's license. Mrs. Boyer has taught for eight years, has her administrator's license, and has been the area coordinator for her grade level. When Mr. England is appointed, Mrs. Boyer asks for an explanation and is told that the committee felt that Mr. England would have more time to do the job and that it was a tough job dealing with irate parents, and so forth. Which law addresses this situation? What options does Mrs. Boyer have? Law Case Study 7 For many years the composition of your community has been very homogeneous, Christian, and conservative, but in recent years more and more families of different faiths and beliefs have been
