Fall 2010
LAW-RELATED EDUCATION NEWS
Volume 4, Number 1
Hatton W. Sumners Teacher Institute Foundations of Democracy INSIDE THIS ISSUE Page 2 LRE Coordinator’s Welcome
June 14-18, 2010, the third annual Hatton W. Sumners Teacher Institute was held at the Tulsa Renaissance Hotel and Convention Center. The institute focused on the Center for Civic Education’s Foundations of Democracy curriculum. This curriculum covers the four basic ideas of government responsibility, justice, privacy, and authority. Each day scholars lectured on a specific concept. Monday, OU Political Science Assistant Professor, Dr. Margaret Ellis, lectured on Responsibility. Tuesday, OU School of Law Professor, Dr. Mary Sue Backus, lectured on Privacy. Wednesday and Thursday, famed Constitutional scholar and Professor Emeritus of Indiana University, Dr. John Patrick lectured on Authority and Justice. The second sessions were dedicated to classroom applications for each topic, mentors Sandy Baker and Melissa Bell conducted these sessions. The final day Becky Walderbach introduced participants to supplemental classroom resources available through the Representative Democracy in America Program. Participants received a classroom set of FOD textbooks, a copy of the book, “The Pursuit of Justice”, co-authored by Dr. Patrick, lesson plans and activities. Mentor Sandy Baker completes an afternoon exercise with (l-r) Timothy Perkins, Judy Dilbeck, Terri Hooper, Megan McCausland, and Jo Heiliger.
WTP National Meeting Page 3 PROS WTP National Competition Lawyers in the Classroom Page 4 CIVITAS World Congress State Project Citizen Showcase Oklahoma Supreme Court Teacher and School of the Year Nominations Page 5 Workshop Project Citizen RDA Mock Trial Close Up
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www.civiced.org
Making Connections… Jane McConnell, OBA/LRE Coordinator
As I drove north on I-35 to work at the Bar Center this morning, I noticed equipment moving dirt at the Rock Creek Overpass. Locals have dubbed this project as the ‘Bridge to Nowhere”. The bridge over these newly expanded lanes was funded and built, but not the road to connect the overpass to Rock Creek. This connection will be completed in the next funded phase. Many school districts are finding themselves in the same predicament. They are offering new sections of Civic classes this school year without the funds to purchase texts and materials for them. Our We the People…The Citizen and Constitution program is the perfect solution. Classroom sets of texts are available, along with professional development teacher trainings, absolutely FREE. This summer we had 31 Oklahoma teachers participating in National, Regional, and State Training Institutes. Oklahoma has 5 Congressional District Coordinators www.okbar.org/public/lre/people.htm who are working to locate 5th, 8th, and US Government teachers who would like to use the We the People texts in their classrooms. Oklahoma PASS Correlations for all three levels including AP History are available at http://www.civiced.org/index.php?page=state_correlations .
Citizen and the Constitution Annual Coordinator Conference June 26-29, 2010 Oklahoma Coordinators attended the National We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution annual conference in Washington, D.C. The conference assists coordinators in gearing up for a new year of training events and competitions at the district, state, and national levels. The District Coordinators will distribute classroom sets of textbooks to schools wishing to participate. The textbooks are available at no charge through a grant from the Center for Civic Education. Interested schools can find contact information at: http://www.okbar.org/public/lre/
Pictured (l-r): Cheri Franklin, Dist. 3,; Ed Cannaday, Dist 2; Becky Walderbach, Dist. 5; Brady Henderson, Star Alumni Representative; and Dianna Morgan, Dist. 4.
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Peaceful Resolutions for Oklahoma Students Peer Mediation in the Classroom
P R O S
Peer mediation affords students the opportunity to learn conflict resolution skills. This valuable life skill will help students to develop self-esteem and self-respect. Schools participating in peer mediation will recognize an overall improvement in school climate as a result of decreased violence and fighting. During the fall training, Peer Mediation Specialist, Phil Johnson (pictured) will lead students through the 5 stages of the mediation process. Role playing activities provide an active learning environment. The PROS program is a collaborative effort of the Supreme Court Administrative Office of the Courts and the OBA Law-related Education Department.
Training dates shown on page 5 calendar. Apply online at: www.okbar.org/public/lre/pros.htm
We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution 2010 National Finals May 23-27, Washington, DC
Lawyers in the Classroom Lawyers across the state are available to speak to your classroom or school assembly. Speaker Topics Available: • Careers • Constitution/Bill of Rights • Contract Law • First Amendment • Fourth Amendment • General Criminal Law • Methamphetamine Awareness • Rules and Authority • Young Adult Guide • Foundations of Democracy Request form online at: www.okbar.org/public/lre/classroom.htm Carter County District Judge Tom Walker speaks to students at Roosevelt Elementary, Miami.
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CIVITAS 2010 World Congress
U.S. House of Representative www.house.gov/house/Educate.shtml
Declare Yourself www.declareyourself.com
Project Vote Smart www.votesmart.org/index.htm
National Mock Election http://nationalmockelection.org/ index.html
Oklahoma Supreme Court School and Teacher of the Year
OSU Women of the Oklahoma Legislature www.library.okstate.edu/oralhistory/wotol/
May 5, 2010, the Project Citizen State Showcase was held at the Oklahoma Bar Center. Participating students prepared a portfolio addressing a problem within their community and providing a possible solution. Janet Cook’s, Laverne Elementary fifth grade boys took first place for, “Don’t Speed It’s a Bad Deed”. Second place went to Ms. Cook’s fifth grade girls from their entry entitled, “Houston we have a Problem”. Donna Hickman’s Union 8th grades received 3rd place for their portfolio entitled, “Proceed with Caution”.
Student Voices www.student-voices.org
Project Citizen State Showcase
Elections and the Legislature
“Embracing Diversity and Building Unity through Civic Education” Jakarta, Indonesia—July 23 to 27
Nominations Now Being Accepted Each year the Oklahoma Supreme Court recognizes one school and one teacher for their outstanding contribution to civics education in the school. Honorees are presented with a trophy and $1000 during a special session of the Supreme Court. Educators are encouraged to nominate their school, a special teacher, or self for the award.
Nomination forms available at: www.okbar.org/public/lre/awards.htm Submission Deadline: January 12, 2011
LRE CALENDAR 2010/2011 September PROS Workshops Elementary 14 Tulsa/Jenks 28 OKC Middle/High 15 Tulsa/Jenks 29 OKC
25 Project Citizen and Representative Democracy In America Workshops Oklahoma Bar Center, OKC
October 7th-8th Encyclo-Media LRE Booth Cox Center 9th-11th Annual Project Citizen Coordinator Meeting San Antonio, TX
December TBA Citizen and the Constitution District Competitions
January 12 Oklahoma Supreme Court School and Teacher of the Year Nominations Due
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Upcoming Training Opportunity September 25, 2010 Representative Democracy in America A primary goal of the National RDA project is to strengthen classroom teaching about representative democracy. RDA workshops are held to help educators gain access to the wealth of supplemental multi-media resources provided through the RDA project.
Project Citizen Project Citizen, developed and funded by the Center for Civic Education, is designed to promote competent participation in local and state government. Participating students learn to tackle a community issue through research and problem solving. Free training and textbooks are provided to participating groups.
Training sessions will be held: Saturday, September 25, 2010 8:30 am—3:00 pm Oklahoma Bar Center
Extended Application Deadline September 17, 2010 Apply online at: http://www.okbar.org/public/lre/democracy.htm
Oklahoma Mock Trial www.okbar.org/public/mocktrial/
Oklahoma Close Up 2011 The Oklahoma Close Up Program allows students to observe and interact with officials representing the three branches of Oklahoma Government. The 2011 Program begins Tuesday, February 15 and ends Friday, February 18. Paid enrollments received by December 20, 2010, with be discounted to $180 per student. The participant fee after that date will be $200 per student. The fee covers program materials, food, lodging, and transportation.
Application Deadline February 1, 2011 www.okcloseup.org
LRE Law-related Education Programs Oklahoma Bar Association P.O. Box 53036 Oklahoma City, OK 73152
Find it Online!
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PRSRTSTD U.S. POSTAGE PAID OKLAHOMA CITY, OK PERMIT NO. 740
Oklahoma Bar Association
www.okbar.org/public/lre/default.htm
Executive Director
What you will find on the LRE web pages:
Law-related Education Committee Chairperson
• • • • • •
John Morris Williams
Jack C. “Chip” Clark
Vice Chairperson Contact Info News Releases Calendar of Events Description of Programs Useful links Free Resources
FORMS: Free Materials Request Request for Attorney Speaker Supreme Court Teacher and School of the Year Applications
Michael Wofford
Law-related Education Coordinator Jane McConnell janem@okbar.org (405) 416-7024
Administrative Assistant Debra Jenkins debraj@okbar.org (405) 416-7023 1901 N. Lincoln Blvd. P.O. Box 53036 Oklahoma City, OK 73152 Toll Free Number: 800-522-8065 FAX: (405) 416-7088