The media regularly reports on schools, educators, principals, governing bodies and parents involved in conflict situations and legal actions. These disputes arise from any one of a number of reasons including ignorance of the existence of legal stipulations, being uninformed about the full implications of such legal requirements, misinterpretation of the law or, alas, wilful breaking of the law. In view of the enormous changes that have taken place with the establishment of a single education system for South Africa, it is more important than ever for educators to have a working knowledge of those aspects of the law that apply to the school situation.