I get a number of magazines about education. One I skim as soon as it arrives is called “Principal Leadership,” and it is published by the National Association of Secondary School Principals. I recently noticed that the first column in each issue is called “Cases in Point - A Legal Constant.”
That’s the bad news – it is true that every Head of School is constantly connected to lawyers for a variety of reasons – issues related to personnel, employment, contracts, zoning and more come up all the time. No doubt the ubiquity explains why legal issues are the first column in each issue of “Principal Leadership.”
The good news? As the article says, “Almost every legal issue that arises in the school environment can be traced back to fundamental constitutional principles.” That is good news because I am fascinated by the Constitution. While I don’t necessarily enjoy every discussion I have with lawyers, it is helpful to think that “the guiding principles and specific tenants of the Constitution can and should serve as a reminder of the correct course of action in many areas of education law.” Thinking about that sense of history and fundamental principles helps to give purpose to an area that, otherwise, might be a constant drain.
Comments, thoughts and discussions with Craig Sellers, Head of School of The Derryfield School, Manchester, New Hampshire
