Education Law Symposium
Pierce v. Society of Sisters at 100
This year's University of Dayton School of Law Education Law Symposium on the topic, "Pierce v. Society of Sisters at 100" will take place online on Friday, October 11 from 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. ET. CLE credit of 5.25 hours for Ohio has been approved.
In 1925 the Supreme Court's unanimous ruling in Pierce v. Society of Sisters made two significant points impacting education. First, in its unanimous opinion the Pierce Court agreed that enforcing an Oregon statute requiring almost all parents to send their children to public schools would have seriously impaired, if not destroyed, the profitability of the non-public schools that filed suit while greatly diminishing the value of their property. Even conceding the power of the state, “reasonably to regulate all schools, to inspect, supervise, and examine them, their teachers and pupils . . . ,” the Court focused on the schools’ property rights under the Fourteenth Amendment.
At the same time, in an issue of increasing significance today, the Court addressed parental rights. In often quoted language the Court reasoned “[t]he child is not the mere creature of the state; those who nurture him and direct his destiny have the right, coupled with the high duty, to recognize and prepare him for additional obligations.” The Justices thereby affirmed the unconstitutionality of the compulsory attendance statute because it “unreasonably interfere[d] with the liberty of parents and guardians to direct the upbringing and education of children under their control.”
This Symposium promises lively debate and discussion from a variety of speakers both in the U.S. and internationally discussing the rights of parents to direct the education of their children amid social mores.
The Symposium will be held via Zoom. It is free but you are required to register.
Registration
The symposium is free but you must register. CLE credit of 5.25 hours in Ohio has been approved. Non-Ohio CLE credit available upon request to state bar authorities (at the discretion of the state). Those requesting CLE from other states will have to apply for it on their own.
Schedule
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9:00 - 9:15 a.m.
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Welcome: Victoria VanZandt, Interim Dean, University of Dayton School of Law Christopher Roederer, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, University of Dayton School of Law |
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9:15 - 9:35 a.m. |
Introduction and Overview: Charles J. Russo, J.D., Ed.D., Director, Ph.D. Program in Educational Leadership & Research Professor of Law, University of Dayton School of Law & School of Education and Health Sciences |
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9:35 - 10:30 a.m.
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Keynote: Pierce and the American Proposition William Thro, General Counsel, University of Kentucky Respondent: Chris Roederer, Associate Dean of Academic Affairs, University of Dayton School of Law |
| 10:30 - 10:45 a.m. | Break |
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10:45 - 11:30 a.m.
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Session I: Evolving Legal Controversies in K-12 Schools: Revisiting Parental Rights Suzanne Eckes, Susan S. Engeleiter Professor of Education Law, Policy, and Practice, School of Education, University of Wisconsin-Madison Respondent: Paighton Baker, 3L, University of Dayton School of Law |
| 11:30 a.m. - 12:45 p.m. |
Lunch Break |
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12:45 - 1:30 p.m.
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Session II: Drawing on Pierce v. Society of Sisters to Reinforce Academic Freedom and Institutional Autonomy in Higher Education Dr. Jeffrey Sun, Associate Dean for Innovation & Strategic Partnerships Professor, Distinguished University Scholar, and Director – SKILLS Collaborative, University of Louisville Respondent: David Haines, 3L University of Dayton School of Law |
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1:30 - 1:45 p.m.
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Break |
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1:45 - 2:30 p.m. |
Session III: Special Education Dr. Kevin Brady, Director, UCEA Center for the Study of Leadership and Law, University of Arkansas Respondent: TBA |
| 2:30 - 2:45 p.m. | Break |
| 2:45 - 3:30 p.m. |
Session IV: International Panel Discussion Paul Babie, Professor of Property Law, Associate Dean of Law, and Director of the Law and Religion Project of the Research Unit for the Study of Society, Ethics and Law, University of Adelaide Marius Smit, Professor, Education Law, Onderwysreg William Smale, School of Education and Professional Learning, Trent University Dennis Petri, Executive Director, Foundation Platform for Social Transformation Jorge Barrera-Rojas, Visiting Assistant Professor of Law, Rodes Jr. Fellow in Law and Religion, Church, State & Society Program, Notre Dame Law School |
| 3:30 - 4:30 p.m. |
Final Panel: Question and Answer Open to All Speakers |
| 4:30 p.m. |
Adjournment |
