Teacher-Hopeful Runs Afoul of ‘Dispositions’

Court finds expulsion from college violated due-process rights.

Scott McConnell suspected that his philosophy of education—which highlights discipline, nationalistic views, and a rigid instructional approach—strayed a bit from that of the faculty in the graduate education program at the private Le Moyne College in Syracuse, N.Y. But he didn’t expect to get expelled for it.

That, however, is what happened last year after Mr. McConnell wrote a paper outlining his admittedly controversial views on education. Now, a New York state appeals court has ordered the Jesuit-run institution to reinstate him.

Free-speech groups hailed the ruling, after it was handed down in January, even though it was not based on First Amendment grounds but on the failure of college officials to follow the due-process procedures required to...