Legal Issues in Education, Essay Example

Leaders need to articulate their beliefs. As a way of clarifying the things that are important to me as a school leader, I compose this brief statement of the things that are foremost in my mind and heart as I go about fulfilling my role. Certain legal, educational, and ethical principles guide my practices as a school leader. I strive to provide excellence and equity for all students, including those with disabilities. These strategies are now discussed.

There is a legal aspect to my work. I am concerned with teaching conditions such as certification, teacher duties, employment conditions, grounds for dismissal, and labor laws. I am concerned with the physical safety of students which include not only school safety, but child abuse from outside of school as well. I am concerned with school attendance. I am concerned with the maintenance of order in the school over things like classroom discipline and suspension/expulsion. I am concerned with student rights such as freedom of speech and personal and religious beliefs. I am concerned with the subjects that are taught, the overall development of curriculum, and copyrights on educational materials (Boone, Butler, et al., 2010).

Obviously, there are educational aspects to my work. One is the aspect of creating and maintaining an educational culture that is not toxic, meaning that the school must be a place where teachers and students can teach and learn without encumbrance. I need to know about the education of students for whom English is not their native language. I need to know about mainstreaming and how students with disabilities are best served physically, emotionally, and mentally in our classrooms. I need to know how private and homeschooling options for education impacts the work I do in my community in a public school. I need to know about current educational trends such as educational vouchers, magnet, and charter schools (Stevenson, 2002).

There are ethical dimensions to my work. I serve as a role model who must accept responsibility for the operations of my school. I must consider how my actions affect others. I must be about advancing the students and the teachers and not do any promotion of myself. I must realize that other people have authority too. I must expect high ethical exercises from the entire school community. I must accept the fact that I, and my school, are open to public scrutiny. Out of absolute necessity, I must be fair, wise, consistent, and considerate.

As for issues of equity, I need to be current on my school district’s affirmative action plan. I need to evaluate my school’s athletic programs. I need to monitor the performance of federally funded educational programs. I need to know the district’s 504 and Title IX coordinators.

Progress has been made in working toward the equitable education of students with disabilities. I need to inform teachers about the things that work best with such students so that they will not be shortchanged by our system of education. The integrity of public education is at stake with this issue (Landgraf, 2002).

References

Boone, J., Butler, M., Combs, J., & Galway, M. (2010). Legal issues in education. Memorial University. Retrieved 28 Apr 2010 from http://www.askcache.com/webcp?q=teachers+duties+employment+grounds

Landgraf, K. (2002). Providing equity in assessing students with disabilities. ETS On the Issues. Retrieved 28 Apr 2010 from http://www.ets.org/portal/site/menuitem.c988ba0e5dd572bada

Stevenson, K. (2002). Ten educational trends shaping school planning and design. National Clearinghouse for Educational Facilities. Retrieved 28 Apr 2010 from http://www.edfacilities.org