Spring Semester, 1994

(January 4- March 31)

Tuesday, 16:30 - 20:20

Location: MPX 8651/52

Instructor: Wanda Cassidy

Office:

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MPX 8667

Phone:

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291-4484/4570

(E1.00)

"There isn't a single act that any government can do that does not have to

find

its source in

the legal system. It's just as important that our citizens have some appreciation of law as

of English, French, literature or economics."

Former Chief Justice of Canada, Bora Laskin

PREREQUISITE:

60 hours of credit.

OVERVIEW

This is a methodology course which examines different ways that law (broadly defined) can be

integrated into elementary and secondary classrooms. The course is appropriate for

experienced and inexperienced teachers of law at all grade levels.

DESCRIPTION

Law is an integral part of the school curricula. Legal concepts and skills are found in the new

Primary, Intermediate, and Graduation programs, and in courses such as Language Arts,

Social Studies, Family Life, Consumer Education, and Law 12. Teachers also convey notions

about law through the hidden curriculum of their classrooms - in the way they handle

decisions, manage conflict, and structure student activities.

In this course teachers and prospective teachers will explore law-related instructional

strategies, review materials for use in their classrooms, examine community resources, and

learn to tailor these ideas to particular students and groups. Students enrolled in the course

are expected to participate in three or four off campus classes, including a mock trial held at

the law courts, a community field study, and an institutional visit.

SAMPLE TOPICS

• Rationale for teaching law in the schools

• Law in the formal and informal curriculum

• Law-related community resources (eg. notaries, ombudspersons, mediators)

• Law-related instructional strategies (eg. mock trials, moot appeals, case studies, storydrama)

• The law and youth

• Developing classroom materials

COURSE REQUIREMENTS

Report on a field study, participation in a mock trial or moot appeal, development of a class-

room curriculum unit, preparation of a 4 page paper, attendance and participation in class.

REQUIRED TEXTS

Source book of readings, available for purchase in class for $20.00.

Coombs, et al. (Eds.). (1990). Ends in View: An Anal

ysis

of the Goals of Law-Related

Education. Vancouver: UBC and SFU. Available for purchase in class for $12.00.