An Analysis of Court Cases Involving Music Educators
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Legal Issues in Music Education: An Analysis of Court Cases Involving Music Educators by Carla Ann Allison Gallahan A dissertation submitted to the Graduate Faculty of Auburn University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Auburn, Alabama December 13, 2010 Copyright 2010 by Carla Ann Allison Gallahan Approved by Nancy H. Barry, Chair, Professor of Music Education Kimberly C. Walls, Professor of Music Education Olin L. Adams, Associate Professor of Higher Education Richard D. Good, Professor of Music Abstract Although all educators are susceptible to legal challenges, music educators, as a result of their professional responsibilities, have an increased risk of becoming involved in litigation. Reasons for this increased risk include individual and student performances, attendance requirements, additional time with students outside of the traditional school day, and off-campus activities including overnight trips. The purpose of this study was to identify the legal concerns that occurred most often in the United States federal court system involving music educators from January 1, 1995-December 31, 2009, and to provide music educators with an awareness of the law as it pertains to the field of music education through court case analysis. The LexisNexis Academic Database was used to identify the court cases involving music educators and selected areas of law including Constitutional Law (First, Fourth, Eleventh, and Fourteenth amendments) and other areas of law (tort law, copyright law, disability law, the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, and sexual harassment). The search revealed 220 cases that occurred in the federal court system from January 1, 1995–December 31, 2009, that involved music educators in their professional roles. The hierarchy of the court system was used in selecting cases for inclusion in the study, and I sought diversity in the selection of district court cases through consideration of the factual background of each case, the case holding, the subject (band, choir, orchestra, and general music), and grade level (elementary school, middle school, high school, and higher education). A summary of each case selected for the study included the facts of the case, the case holding, and the rationale for the court’s decision. ii Music educators were most often involved in federal court cases concerning the Fourteenth Amendment – 26%, Tort Law – 19%, the First Amendment – 17%, Sexual Harassment – 15%, Disability Law – 15%, and the Fourth Amendment – 5%. The information from the court case summaries, the legal considerations used by the court in determining the case holding, and practical application suggestions were provided for each area of law. Through increased knowledge of the laws impacting the field of music education, music educators will be better equipped to provide a safe and comprehensive musical experience for their students. iii Acknowledgments I wish to express my sincere appreciation to the members of my doctoral committee, Dr. Nancy Barry, Dr. Kimberly Walls, Dr. Olin Adams, and Dr. Richard Good for their assistance and support in the completion of this study; to Dr. Nancy Barry for her guidance and encouragement as my major professor; and Dr. Olin Adams for his support and assistance with legal research. To Neill, thank you for your support and encouragement. iv Table of Contents Abstract ........................................................................................................................................... ii Acknowledgments.......................................................................................................................... iv List of Tables ............................................................................................................................... xiii Chapter 1. Introduction ...................................................................................................................1 Research Questions ..............................................................................................................2 Need for the Study ...............................................................................................................2 Definition of Terms..............................................................................................................4 Delimitation/Disclaimer .......................................................................................................8 Study Limitation ..................................................................................................................8 Chapter Conclusion ..............................................................................................................9 Chapter 2. Overview of the Legal System, Constitutional Law, and Other Areas of Law ...........10 Structure of the United States Federal Courts ....................................................................11 District Courts ........................................................................................................11 Circuit Courts .........................................................................................................11 United States Supreme Court .................................................................................12 Structure of the State Court Systems .................................................................................13 State Trial Courts ...................................................................................................13 State Appellate Court .............................................................................................14 State High Court ....................................................................................................14 v Constitutional Law .............................................................................................................14 First Amendment ...................................................................................................14 Fourth Amendment ................................................................................................17 Eleventh Amendment .............................................................................................22 Fourteenth Amendment .........................................................................................24 Civil Rights Act of 1964 ........................................................................................28 Other Areas of Law ............................................................................................................29 Tort Law.................................................................................................................29 Negligence .................................................................................................29 Duty to Protect ...............................................................................30 Breach of Duty and Standard of Care ............................................30 Proximate or Legal Cause ..............................................................31 Actual Injury ..................................................................................31 Intentional Torts .........................................................................................31 Defamation .................................................................................................32 Contract Law ..........................................................................................................32 Copyright Law .......................................................................................................33 Disability Law ........................................................................................................34 Americans with Disabilities Act ................................................................34 Special Education Law ..............................................................................35 Individuals with Disabilities Education Act ..................................36 Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act ............................................36 No Child Left Behind Act ..............................................................37 vi Stronger Accountability for Results ...........................................................37 More Freedom for States and Communities ..............................................37 Proven Education Method..........................................................................37 More Choices for Parents...........................................................................37 Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act ..........................................................38 Sexual Harassment .................................................................................................39 Chapter Conclusion ............................................................................................................41 Chapter 3. Methodology ...............................................................................................................42 Research Methods and Procedures ....................................................................................42 Court Case Search Procedures and Parameters .....................................................42 Court Case Selection Criteria .................................................................................47 Reliability and Validity ......................................................................................................51