LS+6511+Law+and+Educational+Institutions+Equity+Issues

Next Offered
Fall 2013

Professor
Elana W. Sigall (Law)

Syllabus
 Note: Syllabus is subject to change at the professor's discretion .

Course description
During the last century, many of the greatest barriers to equality—and many of the most important efforts to overcome such barriers—have involved the law. This survey course focuses on a variety of legal issues related to discrimination and equal opportunity in elementary and secondary schools. The course takes up the legal issues with reference to the theoretical, social and policy contexts that shape choices made by educators and affect the range of educational possibilities for children. The course’s objectives are to (1) help aspiring educators, lawyers, and policy makers understand and deal effectively with legal issues related to educational inequality; (2) examine the educational, political, ethical, administrative and financial questions that legal issues often raise but often do not resolve; (3) understand the theoretical and social frameworks in which important educational policy debates take place; (4)study law as a source of policy and a tool of policy analysis; and (5) consider ways in which educators and lawyers, working collaboratively, can creatively use law to prevent litigation, to challenge discrimination, and to promote improved educational opportunity.

Review
Elana Sigall is an excellent professor who will push you to think critically about historical legal cases that have greatly influenced the current education system in America. She takes you through a thorough chronology of the cases and ensures that both law students and non-law students alike are aware of the ramifications of each decision. Though Sigall often holds a certain bias of her own in each case, she will listen to students with different perspectives as long as they are able to backup their claims with substantial evidence and proof that they have read the cases.

Student contact information
Niccolina Clements - nac2113@columbia.edu