The Importance of Legal Literacy in Education
Running Head: THE IMPORTANCE OF LEGAL LITERACY IN EDUCATION
The Importance of Legal Literacy in Education
Stephanie C. L. Posocco
A research paper submitted in conformity with the requirements For the degree of Master of Teaching
Department of Curriculum, Teaching and Learning Ontario Institute for Studies in Education of the University of Toronto
Copyright by Stephanie Posocco, April 2016
THE IMPORTANCE OF LEGAL LITERACY IN EDUCATION
2
Abstract
This qualitative research study discusses educational law and how policy impacts teachers in the province of Ontario. The main question guiding this research is: What factors have contributed to developing knowledge and confidence in the area of educational law for a small sample of practicing teachers? By conducting and examining four semi-structured interviews with four practicing teachers in Ontario, this study explores: the importance of educational law courses in teacher education programs in Ontario; the potential inconsistency in the degree of educational law training amongst Ontario-trained teachers; supports which enhance teachers' knowledge and confidence in educational law; challenges teachers face when interpreting and applying educational law; and recommendations from the four participants for educators who feel overwhelmed by educational policy and regulation. The Importance of Legal Literacy in Education seeks to stress the importance of understanding educational law in Ontario, while emphasizing the integral role of teacher education programs, administration, unions, school boards and the Ontario College of Teachers in ensuring teachers are knowledgeable and able to make informed decisions at school and online.
Keywords: education law, teacher confidence, teacher education, teachers' rights, and professional development
Stephanie Posocco
THE IMPORTANCE OF LEGAL LITERACY IN EDUCATION
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Acknowledgments
Mom and Dad, I would never have been able to take on such a demanding program if it were not for your faith in me. Thank you for your unwavering love and continued support.
Melissa and Frank, thank you for never failing to lend a helping hand or a sympathetic ear. Your love and encouragement has not gone unnoticed.
Thank you to Dr. Angela MacDonald-Vemic, Dr. Nick Scarfo and Rodney Handelsman for your guidance and assistance throughout the research process.
Last but not least, many thanks to my wonderful peers and future colleagues in JI cohort 142/242. You have been a constant source of support, and the comedic relief I most definitely needed throughout the last two years. It has been a pleasure and privilege to have worked with
each one of you; wishing you all the best of luck in your future endeavors.
Stephanie Posocco
THE IMPORTANCE OF LEGAL LITERACY IN EDUCATION
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Table of Contents
Chapter One: Introduction
6
1.0 INTRODUCTION TO THE RESEARCH STUDY
6
1.1 PURPOSE OF THE STUDY
10
1.2 RESEARCH QUESTION AND SUBSIDIARY QUESTIONS
10
1.3 BACKGROUND OF THE RESEARCHER
11
1.4 OVERVIEW
11
Chapter Two: Literature Review
13
2.0 INTRODUCTION
13
2.1 POLICIES, CASES AND ORGANIZATIONS THAT EXEMPLIFY THE NEED FOR A HIGH DEGREE OF
LEGAL LITERACY AMONG ONTARIO TEACHERS
13
2.1.2 THE ROLE OF THE ONTARIO COLLEGE OF TEACHERS
14
2.1.3 THE CRIMINAL CODE OF CANADA AND ITS RELEVANCE TO ONTARIO TEACHERS REGARDING
DISCIPLINE OF CHILDREN
14
2.1.4 TEACHERS' ROLE IN ENFORCING THE ONTARIO SAFE SCHOOLS ACT AND THE ACCEPTING SCHOOL
ACT
18
2.1.5 DUTIES OF AN ONTARIO TEACHER AS OUTLINED IN ONTARIO'S EDUCATION ACT
18
2.2 CURRENT EDUCATIONAL LAW TRAINING IN TEACHER EDUCATION PROGRAMS
19
2.2.1 INCONSISTENCY IN TEACHERS' LEGAL LITERACY ACROSS CANADA
22
2.3 THE ROLE OF TEACHERS IN ENSURING STUDENTS' SAFETY AT SCHOOL
23
2.3.1 THE ROLE OF SCHOOLS IN ENSURING STUDENTS' SAFETY AT SCHOOL
26
2.4 IMPACT OF EDUCATIONAL LAW ON CLASSROOM INSTRUCTION
27
2.5 IMPORTANCE OF MAINTAINING PROFESSIONALISM ONLINE
29
2.6 RECOMMENDATIONS TO IMPROVE EDUCATIONAL LAW TRAINING FOR TEACHERS
32
2.7 CONCLUDING THOUGHTS
33
Chapter Three: Research Methodology
35
3.0 INTRODUCTION
35
3.1 RESEARCH APPROACH AND PROCEDURES
35
3.2 INSTRUMENTS OF DATA COLLECTION
36
3.3 PARTICIPANTS
37
3.3.1 SAMPLING CRITERIA
37
3.3.2 SAMPLING PROCEDURES
38
3.3.3 PARTICIPANT BIOS
39
3.4 DATA ANALYSIS
43
3.5 ETHICAL REVIEW PROCEDURES
43
3.6 METHODOLOGICAL LIMITATIONS AND STRENGTHS
44
3.7 CONCLUSION
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Chapter Four: Research Findings
47
4.0 INTRODUCTION
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4.1 DISCREPANCIES IN EDUCATIONAL LAW BACKGROUNDS DUE TO GENERATIONAL GAPS
48
4.2 IMPACT OF EDUCATIONAL LAW ON TEACHING PRACTICE
51
4.2.1 INFLUENCE OF EDUCATIONAL LAW ON INTERACTIONS WITH STUDENTS
51
4.2.2 IMPACT OF EDUCATIONAL LAW ON JOB SECURITY
52
Stephanie Posocco
THE IMPORTANCE OF LEGAL LITERACY IN EDUCATION
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4.2.3 IMPACT OF EDUCATIONAL LAW ON ENSURING STUDENTS' SAFETY
52
4.2.4 IMPACT OF EDUCATIONAL LAW ON TEACHERS' OBLIGATION TO ADHERE TO UNION'S POLICIES 53
4.2.5 IMPACT OF EDUCATIONAL LAW ON MAINTAINING PROFESSIONALISM ONLINE
54
4.3 CHALLENGES AND BARRIERS IN UNDERSTANDING AND INTERPRETING EDUCATIONAL LAW 54
4.3.1 DIFFICULTY INTERPRETING LEGAL LANGUAGE
55
4.3.2 CONFLICTS BETWEEN STUDENT SAFETY, STUDENTS' NEEDS AND TEACHERS' RIGHTS
56
4.3.3 LACK OF TIME AND MONEY
58
4.4 SUPPORTS AND RESOURCES FOR EDUCATORS IN APPLYING EDUCATIONAL LAW
59
4.4.1 ROLE OF THE UNION IN SUPPORTING TEACHERS' UNDERSTANDING OF POLICY
59
4.4.2 INFLUENCE AND IMPACT OF ADMINISTRATION TEAMS ON TEACHERS' CONFIDENCE IN
EDUCATIONAL LAW
60
4.4.3 ADVICE AND STRATEGIES FROM COLLEAGUES AND MENTORSHIP PROGRAMS TO ASSIST IN
BUILDING CONFIDENCE IN EDUCATIONAL LAW
62
4.5 RECOMMENDATIONS FOR BEGINNING TEACHERS WHO FEEL OVERWHELMED BY EDUCATIONAL
LAW
64
4.6 CONCLUSION
65
Chapter Five: Implications of this Study
67
5.0 INTRODUCTION
67
5.1 OVERVIEW OF KEY FINDINGS AND THEIR SIGNIFICANCE
67
5.2 IMPLICATIONS OF THE STUDY
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5.2.1 BROAD IMPLICATIONS OF THE STUDY ON ONTARIO'S EDUCATION SYSTEM
70
5.2.2 NARROW IMPLICATIONS: AFFECT OF THIS STUDY ON MY OWN DEVELOPMENT AS A TEACHER AND
RESEARCHER
71
5.3 RECOMMENDATIONS
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5.4 AREAS FOR FURTHER RESEARCH
73
5.5 CONCLUDING COMMENTS
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References
75
Appendix A: Consent Letter
81
Appendix B: Interview Questions
83
Appendix C: Relationship Between Years Teaching and Degree of
Formal Educational Law Training
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Stephanie Posocco
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