Under 18: Knowing Your Rights (Issues in Focus)

Kronenwetter, Michael

ISBN 10: 0894904345 ISBN 13: 9780894904349

Publisher: Enslow Pub Inc, 1993

Synopsis

Examines the rights of young people, particularly students, in the United States, how they have been established and protected, and how they differ from those of adults.

About this title

Reviews

Grade 7-12-The legal rights of young people are the major thrust of this book focusing primarily on issues of privacy, dress/grooming codes, freedom of the press, and classroom behavior. Kronenwetter cites related court cases and their outcomes, and makes references to pertinent laws that apply. Students are advised of possible actions to be taken if they feel their rights have been violated. However, rather than an evenhanded presentation, the author takes an activist, confrontational tone, which, instead of offering reassurance, might cause overreaction in some situations. For example, he states, "Even today, schools chip away at students' privacy in a variety of ways. When it comes to privacy, one educator writes, 'an appropriate motto carved on stone above the doors of most schools might be, 'Give up your rights all ye who enter here.'" Black-and-white, captioned photographs break up the text, but have little information value.
Douglas K. Dillon, Lakota Freshman School, West Chester, OH
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Gr. 7-12. Beginning with the Supreme Court Tinker v. Des Moines decision in the 1960s, Kronenwetter goes on to discuss the rights of children under the age of 18 in such areas as the right to privacy, grooming and dress codes, freedom of the press for school publications, and classroom rights. After a tone-setting chapter on rights, privileges, and duties, he uses examples from actual case studies to illustrate legal points regarding privacy, personal grooming, etc. The information is both surprising and frightening: surprising because these rights are probably unknown by most individuals and frightening because the examples show how often these rights are violated. Under 18 is concretely and responsibly presented, with consideration given to the wide variation and interpretation of the law depending on the state or school district in which a student resides. With a glossary, chapter notes, and sources for further reading, this is a timely addition to school and public library collections. Janice Del Negro

Edition details

• Publisher: Enslow Pub Inc
• Publication date: 1993
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0894904345
• ISBN 13: 9780894904349
• Binding: Library Binding