Deck 8: Teacher Freedoms

Question 1

Which items are not aspects of due process?

A) Procedural
B) Substantive
C) Exclusion Test
D) Vagueness Test

Answer 1

Exclusion Test

Question 2

Teachers are afforded First Amendment rights outside of the classroom which can be exercised when they:

A) Criticize their school board on practices in which they disagree
B) Speak on issues that interest them and the community
C) Air grievances against the school board
D) Openly disagree with their principal regarding school policies that require before school supervision

Answer 2

Speak on issues that interest them and the community

Question 3

Teacher freedom of expression may not be protected if:

A) The speech disrupts the superior-subordinate relationship
B) Results in a breach of loyalty
C) Results in a breach of confidentiality
D) All of the above

Answer 3

All of the above

Question 4

Academic freedom in public schools allows teachers to:

A) Discuss any topics they feel are relevant
B) Discuss topics related to the teaching assignment within the scope of students' intellectual and social maturity
C) Use the classroom to discuss their personal convictions
D) Allow students to present any topics they wish to discuss

Question 5

The First Amendment provides freedom of association for teachers; therefore, teachers may:

A) Associate with other individuals of their choice
B) Join and participate in any organization of their choice
C) Participate in a non-state sanctioned strike
D) Participate in an anti-gay campaign

Question 6

Teacher may join subversive organizations if:

A) They do not divulge that they are members
B) They do not use school materials to support the organization
C) They do not actually participate in an unlawful activity
D) They do not use their classroom in any way to promote the organization

Question 7

Teacher have political rights and may engage in:

A) Campaigning for their favorite candidate
B) Running for political office
C) Political debates away from school
D) All of the above

Question 8

Teachers may hold political office if:

A) It is not prohibited by state statute
B) They take a leave of absence based on district policy
C) They do not use their position for political gain
D) All of the above

Question 9

Based on a First Amendment interest, teachers enjoy a degree of freedom in dress and grooming. In doing so:

A) School boards still have some authority to regulate teacher appearance
B) Teachers do not need to be overly concerned with community norms or expectations regarding teacher dress
C) Teachers may express their individuality through dress
D) Teachers' interest supersedes school interest

Question 10

Unwed pregnant teachers must:

A) Report their pregnancy to the principal as soon as possible
B) Seek advice from their physician and attorney before taking any actions
C) Leave the position before it becomes known that they are pregnant
D) Resign from their teaching position

Question 11

Teachers have rights to privacy and may:

A) Be mindful of the professional nature of their position and the potential impact of their behavior on children
B) Enjoy their lifestyle without any restrictions
C) Engage in homosexual activities
D) Live together as partners without engaging in marriage

Question 12

Teachers' right to privacy may not be protected when:

A) Their acts are strictly private
B) Their acts do not render them unfit to teach
C) Share their private life with others including students
D) They have a regard for the sensitive nature of their profession

Question 13

Teachers are free to exercise their religious freedoms when:

A) They do so away from school
B) They do so in the teacher lounge away from students
C) They wear religious garb to school
D) When they engage in religious debate in their classrooms

Question 14

School officials may not prevent teachers from:

A) Reading the Bible for meditation purposes
B) Attending religious conferences
C) Wearing religious symbols
D) Discussing religious convictions in their classrooms

Question 15

Teachers and other school employees are entitled to family and medical leave if:

A) They give birth and care for their newborn child
B) Adopt a son or daughter
C) Care for an immediate family member such as a spouse, child, parent with a serious health condition
D) All of the above

Question 16

Substantive and procedural due process applies to teachers in public schools.

Question 17

Failure to follow procedural due process will result in violation of a teacher's constitutional rights in cases involving deprivation of personal rights.

Question 18

The Connick v. Myers case clarified the difference between speech involving public matters versus internal grievances.

Question 19

Since teachers are citizens, it is not necessary that they preface their speech as speech of a private citizen outside the school environment.

Question 20

Public school teachers have a constitutional right to use their classroom as a forum for the expression of ideas.

Question 21

Teachers have a right to campaign for political candidates of their choice.

Question 22

School districts may regulate teachers' dress if they have a legitimate reason to do so.

Question 23

The courts will not support restricted dress codes for teachers that are unrelated to the state's interest.

Question 24

Teachers have privacy rights, even if they violate the integrity of the school district.

Question 25

A school board can automatically disqualify teachers who are parents of a child born out of wedlock.

Question 26

In order to maintain continuity of instruction, a school board may not renew a pregnant teacher's contract when a foreseeable period of absence is predicted.

Question 27

The Supreme Court held in Pickering that teachers may not speak out on matters of public concern.

Question 28

Under Title VII, school officials may not restrict teachers who wear religious garb in the classroom.

Question 29

Teachers are not entitled to First Amendment protection when they make damaging and inappropriate public statements about their employers.

Question 30

Retaliation is acceptable when teachers make slanderous statements about their employers.

Question 31

Teachers possess First Amendment rights and have the freedom to use Facebook and other social media sites in any manner they wish.

Question 32

Discuss the Pickering guidelines and those generated by the Gilbertson v. McAlister case.

Question 33

Discuss the ruling in Mt. Healthy v. Dole and the implication of this decision for public school leaders and teachers.

Question 34

What is meant by matters of public concern and what is the significance of this phrase in First Amendment issues?

Question 35

Why is academic freedom a limited concept in public schools?

Question 36

What restrictions may be placed on teachers who run for public office?

Question 37

What is the significance of the court's ruling in the East Hartford case regarding dress?

Question 38

Discuss privacy rights of teachers and the suggested implications for school leaders.

Question 39

Discuss in detail the Pickering criteria regarding speech outside the classroom by public school teachers.

Question 40

You have been selected to chair a faculty committee that has been assigned the task of developing a faculty handbook. The primary focus of this handbook will include a section on teacher freedoms.
a. How would you approach your task?
b. Specifically, what content would you include?
c. Write a brief section on each component you would include.
d. If possible, use court cases to support as many components as possible. (Be thorough)

Question 41

Develop a policy regarding teachers' use of social media in the classroom.

Question 42

Develop a set of guidelines regarding teachers' use of social media including practices which are permissible and those which are not.