Civic and Law-Related Education: Strategies and CurriculumCivic and Law-Related Education: Strategies and Curriculum

Until humans can solve their philosophical Until humans can solve their philosophical problems, they’re condemned to solve their problems, they’re condemned to solve their political problems over and over and over political problems over and over and over again. It’s a cruel, repetitious boreagain. It’s a cruel, repetitious bore

Source: Tom Robbins “Even Cowgirls Get the Blues”Source: Tom Robbins “Even Cowgirls Get the Blues”

Two Groups of Strategies

Discussion based Law-related

Discussion-Based Strategies

Makha Strategy Deliberative Discussion

– to come to a decision about an issue (best when a classroom or school issue)

Socratic Seminar– A reaction to a powerful text, poem, film,

song

Law-related Strategies

Mock Trial– Literature-based: the trial of the Big Bad Wolf– Historically-based: Attila the Hun or Julius Ceasar

Case Study - Center for Civic Education Other Curriculum linked on Syllabus

Research shows that civics programs are most effective when

Formal instruction in history, law and democracyFormal instruction in history, law and democracy Current events locally, nationally, and globally are Current events locally, nationally, and globally are

discusseddiscussed Community service is linked the curriculumCommunity service is linked the curriculum Extracurricular activities are offered in school and Extracurricular activities are offered in school and

communitycommunity Students participate in school governmentStudents participate in school government Students participate in simulations of democratic Students participate in simulations of democratic

processes and proceduresprocesses and procedures