Negligence, a readily understood tort, has a traditional framework of elements that includes the establishment of a duty, breach of that duty, a resulting injury, and a belief that restitution for the breach has the potential to make injured person whole. Historically in public education, as elsewhere, negligence is often accompanied by violations of the First and Fourteenth Amendments, as well as other Constitutional guarantees. Educators in today’s world face challenges that could easily, and quite unintentionally, place them in harm’s way based upon decisions they must make while continually adjusting to new realities brought on by legislative and societal changes. Our session proposes taking a look at how these current challenges differ from those undertaken in teacher and administrative training and past experience. How is negligence evolving, even within its established elements? We will share thoughts as to what we are calling “Next-Gen Negligence.” To whom are duties owed in an educator’s current reality? What does breach look like today? What constitutes injury? And what can/must be done to address what is perceived of or recognized as injury in the rapidly changing sphere of public education? In short, we will explore what educators, particularly administrators, need to consider to ensure their professional legal safety, to maintain their professional and personal integrity, and to stay reasonably secure in their jobs.
- This event has passed.
Oct
26