ABSTRACT
Most teachers have had no training in school law. As a result, manymake two types ofmistakes. First, because they see their relations with students in loco parentis, they may overreact and punish their students as they believe parents should for “inappropriate” statements, behaviors, or clothing. Because they are unaware that public school teachers function as agents of the government and are therefore restrained by the Bill of Rights, these teachers may unknowingly violate students’ constitutional rights. Second, because they have misinformed fears of being sued if they discipline students (and if students are accidentally injured), teachers may underreact and fail to take reasonable disciplinary action that is legally and educationally appropriate.
