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Teachers Law School kicks off
pilot program in Texas
More than 30 educators from across the state
take crash course from judges, scholars and lawyers
AUSTIN, Texas (July 24, 2009) — More than 30 Texas middle and high school teachers went back to school in late July, not to teach, but to participate in a modified law school specially designed for educators.
The Teachers Law School is a pilot program conceived by the Foundation of the American Board of Trial Advocates in collaboration with Texas educators and the State Bar of Texas. The Teachers Law School attracted educators who teach government, history, and social studies because they are limited in the number of programs that focus on civic issues that their students need to know.
For two-and-a-half days, the Teachers’ Law School, exposed Texas teachers to presentations, roundtables, and workshops aimed at giving them the tools to help their students better understand and appreciate the value of the American legal systems, civil and criminal.
The Teachers Law School pilot brought teachers from across the state to Austin.
Teachers from around the state made application to attend the pilot program. The teachers were able to work with “master” trial lawyers and scholars from the Texas state and federal judiciary. In addition to two and a half days of work, the teachers enjoyed two nights in Austin, including a dinner cruise on Lady Bird Lake, an expression of appreciation for their years of dedication to the classroom.
“The Teachers’ Law school featured faculty of the Texas bench and bar who live and work with the law and who shared the practical realities of systems that protect students, their parents, their teachers, and all Americans,” said David G. Halpern, an Assistant Attorney General for the State of Texas.
Topics included:
How technology has changed the law and the way we live
Developments in forensic evidence
Justice in America: A view from city hall
Trial by jury: The history, the constitution and the current state
Probable cause, search and seizure and the 4th Amendment
Constitutional challenges for the modern classroom
Halpern, an ABOTA member from the Austin Chapter, came up with the idea of a Teachers Law School when he saw the success of the Journalist Law School, also sponsored by ABOTA and the Loyola Law School, Los Angeles.
He cited a recent study from the National Assessment of Educational Progress, issued earlier this year that indicated that only 27% of U.S. high school seniors are "proficient" in their understanding of American government and civic values.
“We wanted to bring together the best and brightest members of the Texas bench and bar with those who directly impact the lives of our students,” Halpern said. “The initial response to the pilot program has been phenomenal.” He added that he hoped similar programs would be expanded to other states.
Tom Harkness, ABOTA Foundation president, said the Teachers Law School falls in line with the Foundation’s mission of ensuring justice for future generations. He added that he is proud that the Teachers Law School was in keeping with Retired Supreme Court Justice David H. Souter’s recent comments urging states to assess and improve civic education.
"Civic education must be raised to a new power," Justice Souter said in a speech to the American Bar Association. "Everyone of us ... must see to it that civic understanding becomes the birthright of every American."
Harkness added, “When more than half of high school graduates in America don't know the three branches of government (28% in a recent survey thought they were Republican, Democratic, and Independent), something needs to be done.”
More that 30 teachers from across Texas
participated in the Teachers Law School, July 23-25.
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