Focusing on the Future: Seeking Legal and Policy Solutions in Education.

• Position: Book Review

Georgetown, Ont.: Canadian Association for the Practical Study of Law in Education, 2000. Pp. xxii, 497.

The title of this book comes from the tenth annual conference of the Canadian Association for the Practical Study of Law and Education ("CAPSLE"), held in April 1999. CAPSLE's purpose is to bring together educators and members of the legal community to facilitate the exchange of ideas, aiming to shape the future of education by providing legal and policy solutions for emerging issues. This book consists of twenty-two essays arranged under five subject headings: education governance, education administration, staff relations, special education, and independent schools.

The section on education governance discusses recent developments in the law of school closures in Newfoundland (Michael F. Harrington & Rodney J. Zdebiak), educational reform and governance in Quebec (William J. Smith, William E Foster & Helen M. Donahue), and the relationship between financial equity and constitutional rights in Alberta and Ontario schools (Frank Peters). The next section focusses on effective and due diligent education administration, with contributions examining liability (Greg M. Dickinson, Maureen E. Reid, Julian Porter), harassment (Lori E. Price & Gillian M. Calder, Robert G. Keel), and search and seizure (Ian C. Pickard, Reynold A. Robertson). The third part explores staff relations. John Judson and Kelly Tranquilli examine the role of principals in the face of legislative change in Ontario (Bill 160). These authors view the loss of formal association as counterproductive, arguing that it threatens the stability of traditional relationships between teachers and principals, who on balance still maintain certain similar interests. Elizabeth J. Shilton also reflects on Bill 160. Her focus, however, is on issues confronting collective bargaining. She is wary of Bill 160, suggesting that while it appears to empower local parties in labour negotiations by localizing discussion, it actually disenfranchises them from any real decision-making concerning resource allocation. Susan Langley examines how significant legislative changes have affected classroom teachers. She believes that legislative reform should place greater consideration on the "teaching-learning core". Focussing on legal and policy issues raised by primarily Albertan case law, Sandra M. Anderson examines disability and stress in the workplace. In particular, she discusses...