Senior Shirts

Abstract

The final two months of the senior year in high school are an emotionally charged time that can be a significant challenge for both students and school personnel. School personnel often struggle to balance an emerging independence with the need to maintain order. This balance is difficult and issues that on the surface seem simple or mundane have the potential to become lighting rods for controversy. This case presents such issues.

In this case a senior class challenges the problem solving, legal knowledge, and political savvy of the principal. Candidates are asked to consider the case and determine a legal, practical, and politically defensible solution. Students are then asked to develop a plan to implement the decision and to communicate the decision to the various publics involved. This case can be used in a course on the principalship, school and community relations, or school law.

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References

Bethel School District No. 403 v. Fraser, 478 U.S. 675 (1986).

Beussink v. Woodland R-IV School District, 30 F. Supp. 2d 1175 (E.D. Mo. 1998)

Chandler v. McMinnville School District, 978 F.2d 574 (9^th Cir., 1992).

Karp v. Becken, 477 .2d 171 (9^th Cir., 1973).

Kuhlmeier v. Hazelwood School District, 484 U.S. 260 (1988).

Poling v. Murphy, 872 F.2d 757 (6^th Cir., 1989)

Taylor, K. (2001). Student dress: How low can it go? Principal Leadership. 2(4), 67-70.

Tinker v. Des Moines Independent School District 393 U.S. 503 (1969).

West v. Derby No. 98-3247 (10 ^th Cir., 2000)