The legal environment in which schools operate and teachers work is increasingly intrusive. There are more statutes, more cases, more regulations, more departmental policies. The law is more complex and compliance is more difficult. Breaches are more serious, more heavily penalised, and noisily publicised.

In this book, Professor Des Butler and Dr. Ben Mathews analyse the major legal issues confronting schools across Australia and provide clear, accessible statements of the current relevant legal principles. They enable readers to understand what the law is and how it is likely to apply in particular situations.

Each chapter covers both legislation directly regulating schools—for example, the obligation on school staff to report suspected child abuse and neglect—and general statutes that apply in educational contexts (e.g. discrimination laws). They also analyse the growing body of case law relating to incidents at schools or involving schools.

The book uses an accessible, reader friendly style, making it suitable not just for legal practitioners, but also for teachers, policy makers, and the wider school community.

Table of Contents

Preface
Table of Cases
Table of Statutes
CHAPTER 1: Children’s Rights
CHAPTER 2: Duties of Care and Vicarious Liability
CHAPTER 3: Statutory Requirements for Child Safety
CHAPTER 4: Student Misconduct and Discipline
CHAPTER 5: Equal Opportunity
CHAPTER 6: Information and Privacy
Index