Conversations with Leaders in Law
This guide provides resources and potential discussion topics to help bring together law-related community leaders and students.
It's My Life
In this lesson, students will think critically about the legitimacy of government intervention in their lives. They will compare individual rights with the public good, and identify some justifications for government intervention.
No Vehicles in the Park
In this lesson, students will apply a general law – “no vehicles in the park” - to specific circumstances in considering the language of the law and its intended objective. The task will require that they interpret the law to allow for certain circumstances – an ambulance carrying a dying patient, for example. The lesson ends with students rewriting the law to more clearly reflect the intent of the lawmakers.
Teen Curfew
In this lesson, students will consider a proposed teen curfew law in a mock city council session. The class is divided into groups; one group is the city council, and the others represent the interests of groups of citizens – merchants association, county school board, etc. This exercise helps show students how citizens can be involved in policy change and decision making.