Law in the Curriculum

SPRING SEMESTER 1995 ?

R. Yates

"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 1

w's"that law (broadly defined)

can be integrated into various subject areas at the eleifhtary and secondary school

levels. ?

.

DESCRIPTION

Law is an integral part of the school curricula! Legal concepts, themes and skills are

found in the curricula of the Primary ard Intermediate programs and in such courses 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 two of three off campus classes, including a mock

trial held at the la courts, a community field study, and an institutional visit.

SAMPLE TOPICS

• Rationale for and goals of law-related education.

• Law in the formal and informal curriculum.

• Teaching law in specific subject areas using community resources (e.g. social studies, language

arts, science)

• Law-related instructional strategies (e.g. mock trials, moot appeals, case studies, story

drama).

• The law and youth.

• Developing classroom materials.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS

Short report of a classroom observation, participation in a mock trial or moot appeal,

evaluation of a resource-based curriculum unit, attendance and participation in class.

REQUIRED TEXTS

Book of Readings, available for purchase in class for $35.00.