Fifty years ago, the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. wrote his "Letter from a Birmingham Jail." In exploring the story of the events behind the essay, and the Supreme Court case that resulted, "Walker v. Birmingham", 399 U.S. 307 (1967), educators will find a pedagogically powerful lens through which to review the seminal…

Facing History and Ourselves has developed "Teaching The Reckoning" to help classrooms explore essential questions about judgment by studying the creation of the International Criminal Court. Ever since the Nuremberg Trials, individuals around the world have imagined how an international judicial body could be used to prevent genocide,…

In this article, the author goes beyond Supreme Court decisions to investigate the upbringing and personalities of three Supreme Court justices who left their mark on history: Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr., Thurgood Marshall, and Sandra Day O'Connor. His interviews with their biographers, G. Edward White for Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr., Juan Williams…

Arranged in three sections, this pamphlet details the rules, officiating techniques, and official records for girls' and womens' competitive swimming and diving. Section 1 lists members of the national rules committee, major rule changes for 1983-84, and official rules for swimming and diving competition. Section 2 contains officiating tips,…

This lesson emphasizes the virtues underlying John Marshall's commitment to his duties as public official and member of a family. It is based on the National Register of Historic Places registration file "John Marshall House" and information from the John Marshall Foundation of Richmond, Virginia, and the Association for the Preservation…

The author decided to minimize the stressful emphasis on assessments in learning in his 11th grade American History and Government classes and put the fun back into teaching. Tired of the repetitive aspects of teaching the required state standards related to the U.S. Constitution and Supreme Court cases, the author switched gears from simply…

Summarizes the experiences of a former science fair participant and judge in an attempt to make the typical rules for science fairs more understandable to any prospective participant. Includes categories of judging, items prohibited from display, a list of most difficult projects, and the source for more information on science fair rules. (JJK)

In February 2000, the Wisconsin Supreme Court, the State Bar of Wisconsin, and the University of Wisconsin-Madison Department of Curriculum and Instruction brought together 28 high school teachers from around the state together for a 2-day intensive workshop on teaching about federal and state courts. A second institute was held in February 2001…

There are three systems of ethics applicable to forensics programs. The classical conception borrows from Quintilian's reference to a "good man speaking well." A second approach starts from the context of a democratic society and builds on the principles that should govern a speaker in that setting, among which are the obligation to…

Discussed is a method for judging science fair projects considered to be more accurate than just an averaging of scores. The use of many categories so that the number of projects in each is relatively small is proposed. The advantages of using the consensus method are described. (KR)

Presents an insider's view of the judging process at science fairs from a former student participant who has performed as a judge at many science fairs. Discusses who the judges are, on what judges tend to focus, parental involvement, gifted students and outside help, the interview process, and the formal rules of judging. (JJK)

It is widely believed that the judiciary can maintain the rule of law and guarantee fundamental rights only if it is independent from political and other pressures. Most countries have provisions in their constitutions guaranteeing an independent judiciary. Usually, this independence has two faces: institutional measures that separate the…

Examines the origins of the U. S. Bill of Rights and constitutional guarantees, focusing on trial rights, tracing them to English antecedents and the colonial period. Explains changes in understanding and the application of trial rights, highlighting the U.S. Supreme Court's evolving influence since the nineteenth century. Outlines contemporary…

Materials are provided for a consumer education activity designed to help teenagers make knowledgeable, rational decisions when purchasing goods and services. A student manual describes how the activity--a consumer judging contest--works. Information is provided on how consumers make decisions. Topics include: needs versus wants; sources of…

This manual provides curriculum materials for implementing a career exploration class in public service occupations within a Practical Arts Education program for middle/junior high school students. Introductory materials include the program master sequence, a list of public service occupations, and an overview of the competency-based instructional…