An assessment of selected knowledge of school law from public educators in the state of Tennessee

Sarah Jane Moore, Tennessee State University

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to assess the knowledge of school law by public classroom teachers from the state of Tennessee. The study focused on three major areas: (1) tort liability; (2) teacher rights; and (3) student rights. The state-wide survey was sent to a random sample of 600 classroom teachers who were members of the Tennessee Education Association. The Two-Sample t-Test was the test of significance. The respondents' scores were grouped into eight different categories: Total scores, tort liability total scores, teacher rights total scores, student rights total scores, educational level and total scores, and school law participation and total scores. An alpha level of 0.05 was utilized in this study. The data yielded the following results: (1) Tennessee public school classroom teachers do not possess a fundamental knowledge of school law necessary to maintain a safe school environment. (2) Tennessee public school classroom teachers do not possess a fundamental knowledge of school law necessary to protect themselves from possible tort liability litigation. (3) Tennessee public school classroom teachers do not possess a fundamental knowledge of school law pertaining to their rights as teachers. (4) Tennessee public school classroom teachers do not possess a fundamental knowledge of school law pertaining to the rights of students on and off school grounds. (5) There was no significant difference between teachers with 0-10 years experience and teachers with 11-30 or more years of experience. (6) There was no significant difference between undergraduates and post-graduates. (7) There was a significant difference between secondary teachers (grades 9-12) and elementary teachers (grades K-8). (8) There was a significant difference in the Tennessee public school classroom teachers who participated in school law workshops, in-services, or classes and those teachers who did not participate.

Subject Area

School administration|Curricula|Teaching|Law

Recommended Citation

Sarah Jane Moore, "An assessment of selected knowledge of school law from public educators in the state of Tennessee" (1997). ETD Collection for Tennessee State University. Paper AAI9806345.
https://digitalscholarship.tnstate.edu/dissertations/AAI9806345

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