Civil Rights and Education Laws Flashcards

Title IX of Education Act of 1972

• Comprehensive federal law prohibiting discrimination based on race, age, or sex in educational settings.

Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964

• Prohibits discrimination in employment regarding race, color, religion, national origin, or sex by employers, employment agencies, and unions.

Academic Freedom

• Grants teachers the liberty to discuss issues and utilize teaching sources without fear of repercussions, ensuring open dialogue and inquiry.

Misfeasance

• Involves performing a lawful act in an improper or illegal manner, potentially leading to liability.

Nonfeasance

• Refers to the failure of an individual to perform a legally required duty, which can have serious implications.

Malfeasance

• A wrongful act that cannot be legally performed, regardless of intent or manner.

Pickering v. Board of Education

• Supreme Court case asserting a public school teacher's First Amendment right to criticize the school board through writing, protecting free speech in education.

Copyright Law

• Legally prohibits the copying and distribution of works protected by copyright without securing permission from the author or their representative.

Buckley Amendment (FERPA)

• Defines access to a student's educational records, providing privacy rights under federal law.

Goss v. Lopez (1975)

• Affirmed that students possess certain due process rights within the educational context to ensure fair treatment.

Due Process

• Ensures that established legal procedures are followed, protecting individuals' rights in legal settings.

Fourteenth Amendment

• Grants citizenship to "all persons born or naturalized in the United States," reinforcing civil rights protections.

Zero-Tolerance Policy

• A strict policy with no exceptions made for rule violations, often applied in schools for specific behaviors.

Corporal Punishment in Schools

• Involves physical discipline applied by teachers to control student behavior, contentious in educational practice.

Tinker v. Des Moines

• Supreme Court ruling stating students retain their Constitutional rights at school as long as they do not disrupt the educational process.

Hazelwood v. Kuhlmeier

• Supreme Court decision limiting First Amendment protections for student speech within school-sponsored activities like newspapers.

Sexual Harassment

• Involves leveraging authority to impose unwanted sexual demands, creating a hostile environment.

Franklin v. Gwinnett County Public Schools

• Established that students facing sexual harassment in public schools can seek monetary damages under Title IX.

Engel v. Vitale

• Landmark Supreme Court ruling declaring that state-sponsored prayer in schools violates the First Amendment's Establishment Clause.

Hazelwood School District v. Kuhlmeier

• Highlights the requirement for teacher oversight over student publications, addressing First Amendment rights in educational settings.

Child Abuse

• Encompasses physical, emotional, or sexual mistreatment of children, raising serious legal and ethical concerns.

Values Clarification

• A process through which individuals explore and comprehend their personal values and beliefs systems.

Character Education Programs

• Educational programs aimed at imparting positive character traits and practical applications in students' lives.

Lawrence Kohlberg

• Renowned for his theory of moral development in children, emphasizing the stages of ethical reasoning and morality.