LAW-RELATED EDUCATION NEWS

LAW-RELATED EDUCATION NEWS Volume 6, Number 1 Constitution Day and Freedom Week Constitution Day-September 17 Federally funded schools are required to commerrate the signing of the U.S. Constitution by learning about our country s founding document. Celebrate Freedom Week-November 12-16 During the week of Veterans Day, Oklahoma schools assemble to honor veterans and celebrate the freedoms afforded through their sacrifice. Students study the importance of the Declaration of Independence, U.S. Constitution, and significant historical events. Oklahoma Bar Association Law-related Education The OBA developed the LRE Department to support civics education in the schools by offering free resources, professional development, and citizenship programs. FREE Resources for Constitution Day and Freedom Week Justice Sandra Day O Connor and Oklahoma Chief Justice Steven Taylor Webcast Special rebroadcast brought to you in part by InReach Continuing Education Available ONLY on September 17, 2012 Times: 9:05 am, 10:05 am, 11:05 am, 1:05 pm www.okbar.org/public/lre/programs/icivics/ Lawyers in the Classroom Invite a lawyer to your classroom to present a lesson on the Constitution. Lawyers are also available to partner with your school to provide citizenship lessons during the year. www.okbar.org/public/lre/classroom.htm U.S. Pocket Constitutions Pocket Constitutions are available for each of your students. www.okbar.org/public/lre/resources.htm Webpage Check out our NEW webpage, dedicated to Constitution Day and Freedom Week resources. icivics A great online interactive resource for teaching students about the Constitution, elections, citizenship, and government. www.icivics.org INSIDE THIS ISSUE 2 LRE Coordinator Connections PROS 3 Hatton W. Sumners Summer Institute 4 Mock Trial Election Links 5 Calendar of Events Law Day OCU Intergenerational Computer Lab Oklahoma Close Up Fall 2012

2 Making Connections Jane McConnell, OBA/LRE Coordinator As the 2012-2013 school year opens we find Social Studies the hot topic of school meetings. This issue is packed with NEW exciting resources to assist your team in planning Constitution Day and Freedom Week activities. Our annual PROS Peer Mediation trainings are scheduled at the Bar Center and in Tulsa during September. The Law Day 2013 contest will focus on milestones in civil rights. Oklahoma Close Up and Mock Trial programs announce their registration deadlines. Don t overlook the Election websites on the bookmarker! SAVE THE DATE: September 28 & 29 Select your site team to attend the Oklahoma Council for the Social Studies - Fall Conference in Oklahoma City. LRE will have a booth and offer sessions in icivics, Citizens, Not Spectators Elections program, and we have invited a national presenter with the ConSource program. Your attendance will assure you an easy transition to the new Oklahoma C 3 Standards for the Social Studies. The OCSS Fall Conference will give your School OC 3 Team the tools needed to implement the Oklahoma C 3 Standards. PROS Peaceful Resolutions for Oklahoma Students Peer Mediation for Elementary and High School Students Conflict Mediation Programs help to: (1) Decrease violence and fighting; (2) Reduce name calling and put downs; (3) Decrease the number of suspensions; (4) Increase self esteem and self respect among peer mediators; (5) Enable teachers to deal more effectively with conflicts; and (6) Improve school climate Training begins in September and is offered FREE of charge. Trainings for elementary and secondary schools will be held in Tulsa and Oklahoma City. Program participants receive teacher and student manuals to use as a reference. Training schedule shown on page 5 calendar. For program details and registration: www.okbar.org/public/lre/pros.htm A Project of the Early Settlement Program administered by the Supreme Court of Oklahoma, Administrative Office of the Courts, & the Law-Related Education Department of the Oklahoma Bar Association

3 2012 Hatton W. Sumners Summer Institute Teachers met in Norman to learn about Foundations of Democracy. June 11-14, 2012, the Hatton W. Sumners Teacher Institute was held in Norman. The institute covered the Foundations of Democracy curriculum authored by the Center for Civic Education. Foundations of Democracy explores the four concepts of democracy Authority, Responsibility, Privacy, and Justice. Indiana University Professor Emeritus, Dr. John Patrick, lectured on the topics of Authority and Justice. On Tuesday, University of Oklahoma Professor Dr. Margaret Ellis spoke to the group regarding the responsibility of citizens in a democracy. National trainers Sandy Baker and Melissa Bell conducted classroom application activities for elementary through high school learners. Thursday, educators met at Oklahoma City University s Intergenerational Computer Center to receive training for Justice Sandra Day O Connor s icivics program. Through interactive games students learn about the three branches of government, immigration laws, and the Constitution. This online resource is available free to teachers and students. The Oklahoma Bar Association is proud to partner with Oklahoma City University in advancing the icivics Program in Oklahoma. Due to generous funding from the Hatton W. Sumners Foundation, the conference was offered at no charge with all expenses paid for attendees. In addition educators received a free classroom set of Foundations of Democracy textbooks. Right: Educators learn about the resources available on the icivics website at the Oklahoma City University Intergenerational Computer Lab.

4 Fourth Annual Capitol City Constitution Day Education Summit SAVE THE DATE! Friday, September 14, 2012 10:00 a.m. 2:00 p.m. George Washington and Executive Powers Speakers CAROL BERKIN The Constitutional Convention: Outlining the Role of the Chief Executive JOSEPH ELLIS George Washington: Establishing Presidential Powers Sponsored by The Constitutional Sources Project (ConSource) George Washington s Mount Vernon Estate, Museum &Gardens The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History Educators interested in showing a live webcast to their students should email: Watch_MtVernon@consource.org MOCK TRIAL The Mock Trial Program is designed to increase basic life skills, instill an appreciation of the American judicial system and its philosophies, and promote academic pursuits that encourage independent learning while participating in team competition. Students grades 9-12 are eligible to compete. All Oklahoma Schools are invited to participate so please consider forming a team to compete in this unique experience. School Administrators, it s time to consider whether your school will be participating in the Mock Trial Program. If you are interested in forming a team or teams to compete in this highly educational and unique experience. Registration Deadline: November 16, 2012 Registration forms and program information will be available at www.okbar.org/ public/mocktrial. If you have questions regarding the program, please contact: Judy Spencer, Mock Trial Coordinator at (405) 755-1066 or mocktrial@okbar.org. U.S. Electoral College www.archives.gov/ federal-register/ electoral-college Oklahoma State Election Board www.ok.gov/elections Kids Voting USA www.kidsvotingusa.org National Mock Election http:// nationalmockelection.org/index.html C-Span Classroom www.cspanclassroom. org/special-offers.aspx Youth Leadership Initiative www.youthleadership. net Our Time www.ourtime.org/vote Do Something.org www.dosomething.org USA.gov www.usa.gov/citizen/ Topics/Voting.shtml Sponsored by the Oklahoma Bar Association Young Lawyers Division Oklahoma Bar Foundation

5 LRE CALENDAR OF EVENTS SEPTEMBER PROS Workshops Tulsa Tech Jenks/Tulsa 11 Elementary 12 Secondary Oklahoma Bar Center, OKC 25 Elementary 26 Secondary 17 Constitution Day 28 & 29 LRE Booth at OCSS Fall Conference Moore Norman Career Tech Center, South Penn Campus NOVEMBER 11 Veterans Day 12-16 Celebrate Freedom Week 16 Mock Trial Registration Deadline DECEMBER 31 Law Day Contest Entry Deadline Close Up Application Deadline theme will focus on milestones in civil rights Intergenerational Computer Lab - Oklahoma City University The Intergenerational Computer Center (ICC) at Oklahoma City University was funded through a $1.4 million federal broadband stimulus grant through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The ICC is free and open to the public and offers a large variety of classes including computer basics, keyboarding, an introduction to the Internet, Microsoft Office, job searching skills, photo and movie editing, website design, and computer programming. In addition, the ICC will customize classes for community groups and a mobile van is available to take computer resources and classes to community spaces. The center offers free parking and has convenient morning, afternoon, and evening hours six days a week. The ICC is partnered with the Oklahoma City School District and offers SmartBoard training as well as professional development on education technology such as assessment, polling, and rubric software. Please contact Director Dr. Veronica McGowan (405) 208-6233 to schedule a free professional development session for your school or grade level. Oklahoma Close Up 2013 The Oklahoma Close Up Program allows students to observe and interact with officials representing the three branches of Oklahoma Government. 2013 Program Dates Tuesday, February 19 through Friday, February 22 Student and school registrations will be available online, September 1, 2012 through December 31, 2012. Applications received in January 2013, will be charged a $20 late fee. Contact: Vernon Guess 918-361-6084 outreach@closeup.org Application Deadline: December 31, 2012 Late applications accepted through: January 31, 2013 www.okcloseup.org

6 Law-related Education Programs Oklahoma Bar Association P.O. Box 53036 Oklahoma City, OK 73152 PRSRTSTD U.S. POSTAGE PAID OKLAHOMA CITY, OK PERMIT NO. 740 Find it Online! www.okbar.org/public/lre/default.htm What you will find on the LRE web pages: Contact Info News Releases Calendar of Events Description of Programs Civic education links FORMS: Free Materials Request Request for Attorney Speaker www.facebook.com/obalre Oklahoma Bar Association Executive Director John Morris Williams Law-related Education Committee Chairperson Suzanne Heggy Vice Chairperson 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