EDLD 5344 Course Reflection

Getting through this course was no small feat. Before entering this class, I had limited knowledge about school law. As I delved into the course, I was in awe at the different types of law that entangles the educational system. When teachers add the internet and 21st century learning, you have opened an even bigger can of worms. Although the majority of the class was geared towards students receiving their degree in the Educational Administration, the knowledge regarding the laws and how they are/were interpreted was beneficial. It interesting to learn about why the courts decided what they did based on each situation. It is also makes me feel uneasy because if one small variable in a situation is changed, the entire court decision could be different than thought. When there is a situation or confrontation at a school, as a leader one needs to know these laws and history of the laws so they can make the appropriate decision and move forward in a positive direction. There is a fine line in between students’ rights and infringement, and it is the job of the administrator to decide what is in the best interest of the student as well as the rest of the student body.

I found our book, Cyber Law, by Aimee Bissonnette to be the most beneficial part of the course. The book is a recent publication and had great examples of what can happen if students are free to roam the Internet in their homes and classrooms without any provisions. It touches on everything from cyberbullying to AUP’s. This book is reader-friendly and has examples of what schools and communities are doing to alleviate problems that come up when using the Internet. The underlying theme of the book is for schools to be proactive, not reactive to situations. Many schools are in the dark about many issues that come with using the Internet, and this book explains what can happen, what has happened, and how to deal with and avoid legal issues when using technology in the 21st century classroom.