Opportunities
CIVIC ENGAGEMENT FROM THE CLASSROOM ON UP Classroom Law Project Helps Students Become Civically Minded BY BETZY FRYE / Development Director, Classroom Law Project
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he Oregon Education Association partners with many community organizations and Classroom Law Project (CLP) is one of them. If you don’t know about CLP, let this be your introduction. But don’t let it be the conclusion – the folks at CLP have a lot to offer. Professional development for social studies teachers like Scott Nelson from Willamina High is a CLP mainstay. With workshops sprinkled throughout the year in places like La Grande, Bend, Portland and Medford, teachers have choices. Whether the focus is the Constitution, elections, mock trials, the environment or any from a host of other civic or government related topics, teachers know they can expect a blend of content and strategy. CLP workshops are known as hands-on events that strive to put the “active” in active learning. You may be familiar with the high school mock trial competition, We the People program, or Project Citizen. Or, your students may have toured the Multnomah County Courthouse, attended the Law Day conference or youth summit
at Portland State University. Perhaps you attended the Oregon Civics Conference for Teachers at the State Capitol where you met high-level elected officials. If so, then you know Classroom Law Project. This statewide non-profit organization does great civic education for teachers and K-12 students. “When I started teaching fifth grade 10 years ago, I went to CLP's We the People training and received a free classroom set of textbooks, ,” said Karen Stratton, Sexton Mountain Elementary teacher and former OEA Board member. Stratton then organized mock Congressional hearings in her classroom and took students to the State Capitol to participate in CLP's We the People Days. “The students were thrilled to testify in real legislative hearing rooms,” she added, “and I appreciated the coordination and support from CLP, including money for buses to get to Salem." As you plunge ahead into the school year, keep CLP in mind. Staff there can help you with your classroom Constitution – a great way to get students on the same page at the start of the year.
When you cover current events, use CLP’s weekly post; it is complete with state standards, common core and connections to the Constitution. Later in the year, when free speech issues arise (don’t they always?) CLP has materials to help deconstruct controversial issues. Ask Karen Rouse. Last year’s Civic Educator of the Year and teacher at West Sylvan Middle School, Rouse is a walking billboard for the organization. A veteran of mock trial, We the People, Youth Summit, and many professional development offerings, Rouse also serves as a mentorteacher and discussion leader at CLP workshops. “They have so many ideas and they are great sounding boards for mine,” describes Rouse, “so I continue to learn and grow as both an educator and citizen.” John Dewey reminds us that “democracy has to be born anew in every generation.” We think he would like the OEA-CLP partnership because we agree on the value of civic education. To learn more about Classroom Law Project and how it can help your classroom, or about any of the programs mentioned, go to www.classroomlaw.org.
I AM STILL AMAZED AND EXCITED ABOUT ALL THE TOPICS THAT WERE COVERED AND THE INTERESTING IDEAS THAT I WILL TAKE BACK TO MY CLASSROOM. … ONE OF MY FAVORITE THINGS IS THAT EVERY INTERACTION WAS MET WITH ENTHUSIASM FOR EXPANDING STUDENTS’ KNOWLEDGE AND OFFERING INNOVATIVE AND EXCITING WAYS TO COVER TEACHING ABOUT OUR GOVERNMENT. I HAVE A RENEWED VIGOR FOR TEACHING AND FOR THAT I AM TRULY GRATEFUL. n TEACHER SCOTT NELSON, Willamina High School, after attending Classroom Law Project Summer Institute 2013
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TODAY’S OEA | OCTOBER 2013