Virginia teachers and school law

Abstract

This study sought to assess the level of school law knowledge possessed by Virginia public school teachers in the areas of tort liability, the teacher and his/her employment, and legal responsibilities regarding students. This knowledge was studied as it related to the type and recency of school law training, membership and activity in professional teachers' associations, the highest degree obtained, the grade level taught, the type of degree obtained (education/not-education), and the number of years of teaching experience.

A questionnaire was developed to collect demographic information and to assess the level of knowledge possessed by Virginia teachers. A 30 item test, consisting of 15 true-false and 15 multiple choice questions, was sent to 401 teachers throughout Virginia. Of the 401 questionnaires sent, 314 or 78.3% were returned.

The average total score on the test was 41.08%.The means for the subareas were as follows: tort liability was 24.7%, the teacher and his/her rights was 43.7%, and legal responsibilities regarding students was 54.8%.

Analysis of variance or t-tests were used as appropriate to see if a relationship existed between knowledge of school law and each of the demographic variables. A significant difference was indicated at the .05 level or better between knowledge of school law and each of the following variables:

1. school law training, 2. grade level taught, 3. whether the undergraduate degree was earned in education or not.

A significant difference was not indicated between knowledge of school law and any of the other demographic variables.

As reported earlier the average percent correct on the test was 41.08% which is lower than the lowest score of any of the Virginia principals studied by Caldwell. This level of knowledge was considered adequate or average; therefore, the level of knowledge of school law possessed by teachers in Virginia is less than adequate.