While I was studying for my doctoral degree I enjoyed learning about education law and became passionate about studying it. Since I did not grow up in the United States I find the concepts of education law fascinating and relatively well developed as compared to developing countries. I was particularly enthusiastic about examining the laws on the rights of students for I notice how we as teachers really have to be so careful in the United States. The students seem to have so many rights that  teachers need to tread very carefully and be knowledgeable of laws. Yet in that same tone, we are expected to work miracles everyday.

Our job as teachers have been expanded to include more of discipline and instruction yet our rights seem so diminished. In this day and age, everyone wants to be politically correct. Being politically correct seems to take precedence over being an excellent and caring instructor. With a bit of sadness I realize that some instructors can be  really good teachers seeking their students’ interest and still they can find themselves unconsciously in legal trouble. For example some of us from a warm, “huggy and touching” culture may hug a student as a greeting gesture. Hugging too often in this culture can be interpreted as abuse.

Knowledge of education law help us as teachers to understand our boundaries and the students’ limits but we must never forget that first and foremost we are called upon to love our students and be good shepherds of education.