Skip to main content

The Need for an Understanding of Education Law Principles by School Principals

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
The Palgrave Handbook of Education Law for Schools

Abstract

This chapter is aimed at setting the scene for the whole book. We commence by exploring an evidence based view that all school principals need some understanding of legal principles as they pertain to the educational setting. The arguments suggest that having a basic understanding of legal matters, should enable principals to be better equipped to recognise and more appropriately respond to a legal problem. We then explore developing trends of this topic over the past two to three decades by examining what legal matters have intersected with school authorities. A consideration of what level of legal understanding principals do possess is then mentioned. Data drawn from a recent research study undertaken on this issue followed by considerations and implications that stem from not having a basic level of literacy are also revealed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 169.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Change history

  • 09 February 2019

    Chapter 12: Towards inclusive schools: The impact of the DDA and the DSE on inclusion participation and exclusion in Australia

References

  • Allison, G. (1983). Public and private management: Are they fundamentally alike in all unimportant respects? In J. Perry & K. Kramer (Eds.), Public management, public and private perspectives. Palo Alto: Mayfield Publishing.

    Google Scholar 

  • Australian Government. (1992). Disability discrimination act. Canberra: Governor General’s Department. Retrieved from https://www.legislation.gov.au/Series/C2004A04426

  • Australian Government Department of Education and Training. (2005). Disability standards for education. Canberra: Attorney-General’s Department, Department of Education, Science and Training. Retrieved from https://education.gov.au/disability-standards-education

  • Bauer, S., & Bogotch, I. (2006). Modeling site-based decision making: School practices in the age of accountability. Journal of Educational Administration, 44(5), 446–470.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Best, R. (2001). Where child protection systems and schools meet. (K. Lindsay, Ed.) Australia and New Zealand Journal of Law and Education, 6(1 & 2), 3–14.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bolton, B. (2002). Schools, the internet and the law. (A. Knott, & D. Stewart, Eds.) ANZELA Reporter, 8(1), 29–52.

    Google Scholar 

  • Butler, D., & Mathews, B. (2007). Schools and the law. Sydney: Federation Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Butlin, M. (2014). Legal principles for school principals: An investigation into the impact of education law on school leaders. Unpublished master’s thesis, University of Southern Queensland, Australia.

    Google Scholar 

  • Campbell, M., Butler, D., & Kift, S. (2008). A school’s duty to provide a safe learning environment: Does this include cyberbullying? (J. Cumming, & E. Dickson, Eds.) Australia and New Zealand Journal of Law and Education, 13(2), 21–32.

    Google Scholar 

  • Christie, P., & Christie, S. (2008, October). Family law and the school. Paper presented at the 17th Annual Conference of the Australia and New Zealand Education Law Association, Christchurch.

    Google Scholar 

  • Collier, J., & Roberts, J. (2001). An ethic for corporate governance. Business Ethics Quarterly, 11(1), 67–71.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Conte-Mills, K. (2010, October). Family law issues and the school: Views from the school and court. Paper presented at the 19th Annual Conference of the Australia and New Zealand Education Law Association, Sydney.

    Google Scholar 

  • Davies, A. (1997). Family law reform act, 1995. (D. Stewart, Ed.) ANZELA Reporter, 4(1), 3–20.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dempsey, I. (2003). The Impact of the disability discrimination act on school students with a disability in Australia. (K. Lindsay, Ed.) Australia and New Zealand Journal of Law and Education, 8(1), 35–44.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dickson, E. (2003). Understanding disability: An analysis of the influence of the social model of disability in the drafting of the anti-discrimination act 1991 (Qld) and in its interpretation and application. (K. Lindsay, Ed.) Australia and New Zealand Journal of Law and Education, 8(1), 45–68.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dickson, E. (2004). Disability discrimination, unjustifiable hardship and students with disability-induced problem behaviour. (K. Lindsay, Ed.) Australia and New Zealand Journal of Law and Education, 9(2), 37–52.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dickson, E. (2006). Disability standards for education and the obligations of reasonable adjustment. (J. Cumming, & E. Dickson, Eds.) Australia and New Zealand Journal of Law and Education, 11(2), 23–42.

    Google Scholar 

  • Edwards, J. (1996). Swings and roundabouts: Changing state and federal laws regulating employment and its termination. Education, law and the future: Proceedings of the fifth ANZELA national conference (pp. 73–84). Brisbane: Australia and New Zealand Education Law Association (Inc.) Qld Chapter.

    Google Scholar 

  • Farrell, A. (1998). Bullying in early childhood settings. (A. Knott, & D. Stewart, Eds.) ANZELA Reporter, 5(1), 14–17.

    Google Scholar 

  • Farrell, A. (2001). Legislative responsibility for child protection and human rights in Queensland. (K. Lindsay, Ed.) Australia and New Zealand Journal of Law and Education, 6(1 & 2), 15–24.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ford, D. (2004, December 1). Emil Ford & Co. Retrieved from School excursions: Are they worth the risk? http://www.emilford.com.au/imagesDB/wysiwyg/Excursions%20Article.pdf

  • Forlin, P. (1995). Health and safety law in Australia: Identifying a standard of liability in Australia from an international perspective. In D. Hopkins (Ed.), Fourth national conference of the Australian and New Zealand education law association (pp. 120–132). Melbourne: Australian and New Zealand Education Law Association (Inc.).

    Google Scholar 

  • Hamilton, J. (2002). Discrimination and the enrolment process – Who is in the wrong? In D. Stewart (Ed.), Legal risk management safety, security and success in education: Proceedings of the 11th annual conference of the Australia and New Zealand education law association (pp. 329–350). Brisbane: GSM Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hamilton, J., & Smith, F. (2002). The schoolyard fight: Duty of cared owed by teachers. (K. Lindsay, Ed.) Australia and New Zealand Journal of Law and Education, 7(1), 88–90.

    Google Scholar 

  • Healy, K. (1998). Addressing bullying at the school level through multiple systems. (A. Knott, & D. Stewart, Eds.) ANZELA Reporter, 5(1), 18–22.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hopkins, D. (2008, April). The legal obligations of a teacher. Retrieved from http://www.vit.vic.edu.au/SiteCollectionDocuments/PDF/Legal-obligations-of-a-teacher.pdf

  • Jackson, J., & Varnham, S. (2007). Law for educators: School and university law in Australia. Sydney: LexisNexis Butterworths.

    Google Scholar 

  • Johnson, P. (2002). Disability discrimination law and occupational health and safety law: How to reconcile the two? In D. Stewart (Ed.), Legal risk management safety, security and success in education: Proceedings of the 11th annual conference of the Australia and New Zealand education law association (pp. 277–286). Brisbane: GSM Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Keeffe, M. (2003). The principal’s governance of inclusion and the requirements of the disability discrimination legislation: Are they words apart? (K. Lindsay, Ed.) Australia and New Zealand Journal of Law and Education, 8(1), 69–76.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kilham, C., & Watson, L. (2014, December). The Impact of online learning about the disability standards for education on Australian school staff. Paper presented at the Australian Association for Research in Education Conference, Brisbane.

    Google Scholar 

  • Knott, A. (1998). Bullying, harassment and violence in schools – Legal options for victims. (A. Knott, & D. Stewart, Eds.) ANZELA Reporter, 5(1), 23–31.

    Google Scholar 

  • Knott, A. (2010). Regulation of the school teaching profession 1970–2010 (Mid-career reflections). In Australian & New Zealand education law association 19th annual conference (pp. 51–52). Sydney: ANZELA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lindsay, K. (1997). Age discrimination in education: A critique of law and policy. (D. Stewart, Ed). Australia and New Zealand Journal of Law and Education, 2(1), 59–68.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lindsay, K., & Keeffe-Martin, M. (2002). Issues in Australian disability discrimination case law and strategic approaches for the lawful management of inclusion. (K. Lindsay, Ed.) Australia and New Zealand Journal of Law and Education, 7(2), 141–160.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mathews, B. P., Walsh, K. M., Butler, D. A., & Farrell, A. M. (2006). Mandatory reporting by Australian teachers of suspected child abuse and neglect: Legislative requirements and questions for future direction. Australia and New Zealand Journal of Law and Education, 11(2), 7–22.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mawdsley, R. D., & Cumming, J. J. (2008). The origins and development of education law as a separate field of law in the United States and Australia. Australia and New Zealand Journal of Law & Education, 13(2), 7–20.

    Google Scholar 

  • Murray, B. (1997). Failing to report: Potential action for breach of the statutory duty to report child abuse in Victoria. (D. Stewart, Ed.) Australia and New Zealand Journal of Law and Education, 2(1), 89–100.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nolan, B. C., & Spencer, J. D. (Eds.). (1997). Schools and litigation: Developing legal policies. Toowoomba: P.C.S. Publications.

    Google Scholar 

  • Oyston v St Patrick’s College [2013] NSWCA 135.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ramsay, I., & Shorten, A. (1996). Education and the law. Sydney: Butterworths.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rayner, M. (1996). Student’s rights. Education, law and the future: Proceedings of the fifth ANZELA national conference (pp. 19–30). Brisbane: Australia and New Zealand Education Law Association (Inc.) QLD Chapter.

    Google Scholar 

  • Salidu, M. (1994). Discrimination and schools: The legislation and its effects. In D. Stewart (Ed.), Third annual conference of the Australian and New Zealand education law association (pp. 173–193). Brisbane: Qld University of Technology Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Simmonds, R. (2005). Is our right to privacy at risk in a technology world? In Free speech, privacy and property rights in education (pp. 11–35). Fremantle: Promaco Conventions Pty Ltd.

    Google Scholar 

  • Slee, P. (1998). Bullying in Australian Schools. (A. Knott, & D. Stewart, Eds.) ANZELA Reporter, 5(1), 3–6.

    Google Scholar 

  • Squelch, J., & Goldacre, L. (2009). School prospectuses and the potential liability of private schools under section 52 of the trade practices act 1974 (Cth). (J. Cumming, & E. Dickson, Eds.) International Journal of Law and Education, 14(1), 39–50.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stafford, N. (2004, September). What can a school do to ensure student and staff wellbeing and safety in light of the Australian high court’s decision in Purvis v State of NSW. Paper presented at the 13th Annual Conference of the Australia and New Zealand Education Law Association, Wellington.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stewart, D. (1996). Principals’ knowledge of law affecting schools. (D. Stewart, Ed.) Australia and New Zealand Journal of Law and Education, 1(1), 111–129.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stewart, D. (1998). Legalisation of education: Implications for principals’ professional knowledge. Journal of Educational Administration, 36(2), 129–145.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stewart, D. (2003). Inclusion: How far does a school have to go? Ensuring best practice: The case of ‘I’. (K. Lindsay, Ed.) Australia and New Zealand Journal of Law and Education, 8(1), 77–86.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stewart, D., & Cope, B. (1996). Judicious behaviour management. Education, law and the future: Proceedings of the fifth ANZELA national conference (pp. 173–180). Brisbane: Australia and New Zealand Education Law Association (Inc.) Qld Chapter.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stewart, D., & Knott, A. (2002). Schools, courts and the law: Managing student welfare. Sydney: Pearson Education Australia.

    Google Scholar 

  • Teh, M. (2009). Principals and legal risk: Complacency or concern? Paper presentated as the 18th Annual Conference of the Australia and New Zealand Education Law Association, Melbourne.

    Google Scholar 

  • Teh, K. (2014). The case for legal literacy for educators. Australian & New Zealand education law association 23rd annual conference (pp. 387–412). Adelaide: ANZELA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Trimble, A. J., Cranston, N., & Allen, J. M. (2012). School principals and education law: What do they know, what they need to know? Leading & Managing, 18(2), 46–61.

    Google Scholar 

  • Trimmer, K. (2003). Review of the West Australian department of education regulatory framework. Paper read at Australian Association of Research in Education Conference, Auckland.

    Google Scholar 

  • Trimmer, K. (2011). Non-compliance by school principals: The effects of experience, stakeholder characteristics and governance mechanisms on reasoned risk-taking in decision-making. Thesis for award of Doctor of Business Administration, Curtin University of Technology, Australia.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tronc, K. (1996). You, your school and the law. Brisbane: Fernfawn Publications.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tronc, K. (1999, September). Schools and the law: Some backdates, updates and mandates. Paper presented at the 8th Annual Conference of the Australia and New Zealand Education Law Association, Brisbane.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tronc, K., & Sleigh, D. (1989). Australian teachers and the law. Sydney: Butterworths.

    Google Scholar 

  • UNICEF. (1989). United Nations Convention of the Rights of the Child (UNCRC). New York: United Nations.

    Google Scholar 

  • Varnham, S. (2002). Mainstreaming or Maindumping? Daniels v the attorney general. Equality of access to education for children with special needs in New Zealand. In D. Stewart (Ed.), Legal risk management safety, security and success in education: Proceedings of the 11th annual conference of the Australia and New Zealand education law association (pp. 239–254). Brisbane: GSM Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Walker, S. (1995). Schools and defamation. In D. Hopkins (Ed.), Fourth national conference of the Australian and New Zealand education law association (pp. 15–25). Melbourne: Australian and New Zealand Education Law Association (Inc.).

    Google Scholar 

  • Weegen, C. (2013). Defining ‘reasonable force’ in the modern school environment. International Journal of Law & Education, 18(1), 83–97.

    Google Scholar 

  • Williams, P. (1995). Touching students: A legal dilemma for teachers. (A. Knott, & D. Stewart, Eds.) ANZELA Reporter, 3(1), 17–23.

    Google Scholar 

  • Williams, P. (2002). Educational employers and foreseeable risks of harm. (K. Lindsay, Ed.) Australia and New Zealand Journal of Law and Education, 7(1), 81–83.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilson, L. (2014, October 14). Frightened teachers avoiding excursions. The Courier Mail. Brisbane.

    Google Scholar 

  • Winram, M. (2008). Lawyers and educators working together to protect schools, teachers and students from You-Tube and other websites that malign them, Achieving excellence: Lawyers and educators working together (pp. 133–150). Christchurch.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wirtz, V., Cribb, A., & Barber, N. (2005). Reimbursement decisions in health policy-extending our understanding of the elements of decision-making. Health Policy, 73, 330–338.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mark Butlin .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2018 The Author(s)

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Butlin, M., Trimmer, K. (2018). The Need for an Understanding of Education Law Principles by School Principals. In: Trimmer, K., Dixon, R., S. Findlay, Y. (eds) The Palgrave Handbook of Education Law for Schools. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-77751-1_1

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-77751-1_1

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-77750-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-77751-1

  • eBook Packages: EducationEducation (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics