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EDUCATION 448-4

Law in the Curriculum

Spring Semester, 1988

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Instructor: ?

Patricia Pitsula

Wednesday ?

Location: ?

MPX

7504

4:30-8:20P.M. ?

Phone: ?

291-4484

"Just as we recognize that every student has a right to read, so we should

recognize that every student has a right to be 'legally literate', to possess that

minimum amount of information needed by citizens to understand how their

legal system works and how it can work for them."

Prerequisite: Educ. 401/402 or equivalent of a first teaching practicum, or permission from the

instructor

Calendar Description:

The justification and practise of law-related education is the subject of this methodology course.

Students will examine the place of law in the curriculum and have the opportunity to develop unit plans

and curriculum materials, teaching strategies, and skills in legal research. Emphasis is on developing

and implementing law-related programs in the classroom.

Objective:

Law-Related topics, concepts and skills can be found in the elementary and secondary school

curriculum in B.C. in subjects such as Language Arts, Social Studies, English, Consumer Education

and, of course, Law 11. Teachers also teach legal concepts through the informal curriculum -- the way

classrooms are managed, conflict is resolved and student participation is sought.

Education 448-4, "Law in the Curriculum" is a methodology course. Its purpose is to provide teachers

and prospective teachers with an overview of law's relationship and importance to the curriculum and

to provide the opportunity for educators to examine and participate in a wide variety of strategies useful

for teaching legal topics and concepts in the classroom. The course is suited to both elementary and

secondary school teachers and those experienced and inexperienced in teaching law.

Topics will include:

1.

justification for teaching law in the schools

2.

law and the curriculum, formal and informal

3.

unit development in law

4. basic

skills

of legal research

5.

classroom strategies such as: mock trials, simulations, case law method, debate, use of a-v,

concept presentation

6.

community resources

7.

materials review and development

8.

evaluation in law-related education

The occasional field trip will also occur.

Requirements:

Simulation and mock trial participation. Development of a short curriculum unit on law. A couple of

short, written assignments related to class topics. Readings and attendance.

Materials: A source book of readings will be made available at a cost of $20.00.