Ok. So here is my confession. I have been disappointed by several of the classes in my Master's program. I am currently in my last class to receive my degree: Education Law.
In the beginning week of class...I was worried that it would be just as disappointing as the rest. But then something strange happened. I was assigned a paper. Not just a paper, but a choice paper. There are five topics and I have to write papers on three, of my choice.
I looked through the options and chose the one I thought would take the least amount of time.
By the end of the paper though, I noticed that I was excited about it. I was interested in the content. I was spending time on my research because I wanted to learn more.
The paper was about religion in schools, due process, and the process for dismissal in my profession.
I am SO happy that there is finally a class that DIRECTLY correlates with my profession. It is FINALLY reminding me about some of the things that I used to have a passion for learning about. AT LAST!
It feels a little bitter sweet. My last class. I wish that they all were like this one. It's just SO RELEVANT! I love it!
Here are some snip-bits of my 1st paper:
Religion
The discussion of the rights of employees in expressing their own beliefs is fairly straightforward. To put
it plainly, it is agreed that employees should not preach for or endorse religion in the classroom setting.
However, it is understood that this is harder said than done.
Religion should be studied from an academic perspective. There are several examples of where you
should draw the line between what can and cannot happen in the classroom concerning religion education.
For example, academic vs. devotional, awareness vs. acceptance, study vs. practice, expose vs. impose,
educate vs. denigrate, inform vs. conform are several illustrations of what is acceptable and not acceptable
religious education.
Due Process
Due process, or notice and the opportunity to defend yourself, is contingent on the circumstances of each specific incident. The 14th Amendment states the government shall not “deprive any person of life, liberty or property without due process of law.” Basically, this means that everyone has an opportunity for fairness.
Employees in public education are most in need of protection for things like accumulated leave, the right to continue employment during a contract time frame and the right to file a grievance. These things are gained through contract or state/federal law. Once the educators have them, they may not be taken awake without due process of law.
If an employee is to be terminated within contract time, a letter will be given to the teacher. The letter may be mailed or given personally to the teacher 30 days prior to the date of termination. The letter will give details for reasons of termination. The teacher can request a hearing within 15 days of the letter. If a hearing is not requested, the teacher will be fired without a hearing. The teacher may be suspended from work pending a hearing with or without pay, depending on the decision of a district representative.
I do not believe that there should be more steps included in this process. The teachers are given notice, help to fix problems, and the right to a hearing to defend themselves. This is plenty. It is already incredibly hard to fire insufficient teachers.
