Skip to main content

Educational Negligence: Is It a Viable Form of Action?

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Book cover The Palgrave Handbook of Education Law for Schools
  • 2123 Accesses

Abstract

In the current climate of setting professional standards for the teaching profession, the question arises as to whether schools have a duty of care to students with regard to educational outcomes. Thus, an issue of growing concern for lawyers, judges, and educators in the US, England and Australia is educational malpractice or negligence. But courts have been largely unresponsive when plaintiffs raise claims of this nature. As one American judge pithily noted, educational malpractice β€œis a tort beloved of commentators but not of courts.” Against this background, this chapter examines legal developments on educational malpractice in the US, England and Australia, and then discusses the impact of setting professional standards for teaching. It concludes with reflections on the future, if any, for claims of educational malpractice.

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

References

  • Abela v State of Victoria [2013] FCA 832.

    Google ScholarΒ 

  • Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2013). 1220.0 – ANZSCO – Australian and New Zealand standard classification of occupations, version 1.2. Retrieved from http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/Lookup/1220.0Chapter612013%20Version%201.2

  • Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL). (2011). National professional standards for teachers. Retrieved from http://www.aitsl.edu.au/verve/_resources/AITSL_National_Professional_Standards_for_Teachers.pdf

  • B.M. v State, 649 P.2d 425 (Mont. 1982).

    Google ScholarΒ 

  • Babie, P., Russo, C. J., & Dickinson, G. M. (2004). Supervision of students: An exploratory comparative analysis. Australia & New Zealand Journal of Law and Education, 9(1), 41–70.

    Google ScholarΒ 

  • BBC. (2001, October 1). School sued over poor results. Retrieved from http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/education/1573033.stm

  • Bell v Board of Educ. of the City of W.Haven, 739 A.2d 321(Conn. Ct. App. 1999).

    Google ScholarΒ 

  • Civil Liability Act 1936 (SA).

    Google ScholarΒ 

  • Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW).

    Google ScholarΒ 

  • Civil Liability Act 2002 (Tas).

    Google ScholarΒ 

  • Civil Liability Act 2002 (WA).

    Google ScholarΒ 

  • Civil Liability Act 2003 (Qld).

    Google ScholarΒ 

  • Commonwealth v Introvigne. (1982). 150 CLR 258.

    Google ScholarΒ 

  • Cox v. State of New South Wales (2007) NSWSC 471.

    Google ScholarΒ 

  • Cumming, J. J. (2009). Assessment challenges, the law and the future. In C. Wyatt-Smith & J. J. Cumming (Eds.), Educational assessment in the 21st century – Connecting theory and practice (pp. 157–179). London: Springer.

    ChapterΒ  Google ScholarΒ 

  • D.S.W. v Fairbanks North Star Borough Sch. Dist., 628 P.2d 554 (Alaska 1981).

    Google ScholarΒ 

  • Dale, A. (2011, June 1). Parents must pay up – Court rules Roseville college did enough to help daughters. The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved from http://www.news.com.au/top-stories/parents-must-pay-up-court-rules-private-school-did-enough-to-help-daughters/story-e6frfkp9-1226066808945

  • DeMitchell, T. A., DeMitchell, T. A., & Gagnon, D. (2012). Teacher effectiveness and value-added modelling: Building a pathway to educational malpractice? Brigham Young University Education and Law Journal, 2, 257–301.

    Google ScholarΒ 

  • Department of Education. (2011). Teachers’ standards: Guidance for school leaders, school staff and governing bodies. Retrieved from https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/301107/Teachers__Standards.pdf

  • Disability Discrimination Act. (1992). Retrieved from http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/cth/consol_act/dda1992264/

  • Donohue v. Copiague Union Free Sch. Dist., 418 N.Y.S.2d 375 (N.Y. 1979).

    Google ScholarΒ 

  • Donoghue v Stevenson [1932] AC 562.

    Google ScholarΒ 

  • Eckes, S. E., Decker, J. R., & Richardson, E. N. (2012). Trends in court opinions involving negligence in K-12 schools: Considerations for teachers and administrators. West’s Education Law Reporter, 275, 505.

    Google ScholarΒ 

  • Elson, J. (1978). A common law remedy for the educational harms caused by incompetent or careless teaching. Northwestern University Law Review, 73, 641–771.

    Google ScholarΒ 

  • Foster, W. F. (1985). Educational malpractice: A Tort for the untaught? University of British Columbia Law Review, 19, 161–244.

    Google ScholarΒ 

  • Funston, R. (1980–1981). Educational malpractice: A cause of action in search of a theory. San Diego Law Review, 18, 743–812.

    Google ScholarΒ 

  • Geyer v Downs. (1977). 138 CLR 90.

    Google ScholarΒ 

  • Grant Mears v Sydney Anglican Schools Corporation [2016] NSWCA 39.

    Google ScholarΒ 

  • Hannan, E. (2006, August 15). School payout for boy’s reading failure. The Australian, p. 1.

    Google ScholarΒ 

  • Hoffman v. Board of Educ., 424 N.Y.S.2d 376 (N.Y. 1979).

    Google ScholarΒ 

  • Hudson, F. (2008, March 16). Father wants refund on Brighton Grammar school fees. Sunday Herald Sun. Retrieved from http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/sons-flunk-school-dad-demands-a-refund/storye6frg6n6-1111115809105

  • Hunter v. Board of Educ. of Montgomery Cnty., 439 A.2d 582 (Md.1982).

    Google ScholarΒ 

  • Hutt, E., & Tang, A. (2013). The new education malpractice litigation. Virginia Law Review, 99(3), 419–492.

    Google ScholarΒ 

  • Jamieson, L. S. (1991). Educational malpractice: A lesson in professional accountability. Boston College Law Review, 32(4), 899–965.

    Google ScholarΒ 

  • Keeton, W. P., Dobbs, D. B., Keeton, R. E., & Owen, D. G. (1984). Prosser and Keeton on the law of Torts (5th ed.). St Paul: West Publishing Co.

    Google ScholarΒ 

  • Maglan, C. (2016, October 27). Judge dismisses lawsuit challenging Minnesota teachers union protections. Duluth News Tribune (MN) at A 9, 2016 WLNR 32881528.

    Google ScholarΒ 

  • March v E & M H Stramare Pty Ltd (1991) 171 CLR 506.

    Google ScholarΒ 

  • Matos, A. (2016, April 14). Lawsuit accuses Minnesota of protecting bad teachers at expense of students. Minneapolis-St. Paul, Star Tribune. Retrieved from http://www.startribune.com/suit-says-minnesota-protects-bad-teachers-at-expense-of-students/375609941

  • Mawdsley, R. D., & Cumming, J. J. (2008a). Educational malpractice and setting damages for ineffective teaching: A comparison of legal principles in the USA, England and Australia. Education and the Law, 20(1), 25–46.

    ArticleΒ  Google ScholarΒ 

  • Mawdsley, R. D., & Cumming, J. J. (2008b). 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 ScholarΒ 

  • Mawdsley, R. D., & Mawdsley, J. L. (2012). Should educational malpractice be actionable? In C. J. Russo (Ed.), School law (pp. 213–227). Thousand Oaks: SAGE Publications.

    Google ScholarΒ 

  • Mears v Sydney Anglican Schools Corporation [2013] NSWSC 535; Mears v Sydney Anglican schools corporation (No. 2)[2013] NSWSC 876.

    Google ScholarΒ 

  • Moore v Vanderloo, 386 N.W.2d 108 (Iowa 1986).

    Google ScholarΒ 

  • Overseas Tankship (UK) Ltd v Miller Steamship Co Pty Ltd (Wagon Mound (No 2))[1967] AC 617.

    Google ScholarΒ 

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

    Google ScholarΒ 

  • Peter W v. San Francisco Unified Sch. Dist., 131 Cal. Rptr. 854 (Cal. Ct. App. 1976).

    Google ScholarΒ 

  • Phelps v Hillingdon London Borough Council [1999] 1 W.L.R. 500.

    Google ScholarΒ 

  • Phelps v London Borough of Hillingdon [2001] 2 AC 619.

    Google ScholarΒ 

  • Raethel, S. (1996, April 11). Pupils sue over missing lessons. Sydney Morning Herald, p. 3.

    Google ScholarΒ 

  • Ramsay, I. (1988). Educational negligence and the legalisation of education. University of New South Wales Law Journal, 11, 184–218.

    Google ScholarΒ 

  • Ramsay v Larsen. (1964). 111 CLR 16.

    Google ScholarΒ 

  • Roads and Traffic Authority v Royal [2008] HCA 19.

    Google ScholarΒ 

  • Sarre, R. (2008). Fairness in trading: Trade practices law and school governance. AISSA School Board Governance Journal, 11, 1–4.

    Google ScholarΒ 

  • Sisters of the Holy Child Jesus at Old Westbury v. Corwin, 29 N.Y.S.3d 736 (N.Y. App. Div. 2016).

    Google ScholarΒ 

  • Smith v. Alameda Cnty. Social Servs. Agency, 153 Cal.Rptr. 712 (Cal. Ct. App. 1979).

    Google ScholarΒ 

  • Tokic, S. (2014). Rethinking educational malpractice: Are educators rock stars? Brigham Young University Education and Law Journal, 3(1), 105–133.

    Google ScholarΒ 

  • Torres v Little Flower, 485 N.Y.S.2d 15 (N.Y.1984).

    Google ScholarΒ 

  • Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth).

    Google ScholarΒ 

  • Trustees of the Roman Catholic Church for the Diocese of Canberra and Goulburn v Hadba [2005] HCA 31.

    Google ScholarΒ 

  • Weir v Geelong Grammar School (Civil Claims) [2012] VCAT 1736.

    Google ScholarΒ 

  • Williams v. Eady. (1893). 10 TLR 41 CA.

    Google ScholarΒ 

  • Wrongs Act (Vic) 1958.

    Google ScholarΒ 

  • Wyong Shire Council v Shirt (1980) 146 CLR 40.

    Google ScholarΒ 

  • Yee Tak On v Dr Linda Hort (ANU College) [2012] FMCA 391.

    Google ScholarΒ 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mui Kim Teh .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

Β© 2018 The Author(s)

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Teh, M.K., Russo, C.J. (2018). Educational Negligence: Is It a Viable Form of Action?. 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_3

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-77751-1_3

  • 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