Discusses the history of the Constitutional Rights Foundation (CRF). Describes its 1957 origins, its evolution from the Los Angeles Civil Liberties Foundation, and its association with the California State Board of Education. Addresses the group's involvement in the law-related education movement. Explores the CRF's role in marking the…

"We the People...The Citizen and the Constitution" is a national civic education program that aims to help elementary and secondary students understand the history and principles of constitutional government. The program focuses on the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights and fosters civic competence and responsibility among students in…

Discusses interpretations of the establishment clause of the First Amendment. Outlines how Supreme Court decisions involving separation of church and state have been based on misinterpretations both of the First Amendment and of the intentions of its framers. (MD)

Provides an annotated bibliography of materials for use in teaching about the Bill of Rights. Includes items selected for their breadth of instructional techniques, variety of sources, and uniqueness. States prices and directions for obtaining the materials. (SG)

Two landmark cases, "Serrano v Priest" (1971) and "Rodriguez v San Antonio" (1973) catapulted school finance litigation onto the political and educational scene. In their aftermath, 11 state supreme courts had ruled school funding systems unconstitutional while 12 state systems have been upheld as constitutional. Many…

Providing a link between constitutional scholars and the planners of school and public programs observing the Bicentennial of the United States Constitution, this series of the Bicentennial Chronicles features articles that provide a link between scholars of the Constitution and the people who will be planning programs for the public and for the…

The 17 essays included in this book are designed to provide educators and other interested readers with contemporary perspectives on a broad range of themes and topics concerning the U.S. Constitution. The authors are a distinguished group of historians, political scientists, legal scholars, and jurists. The essays include: "The Achievement…

This collection of lesson plans presents ideas for educators and persons in the law and justice community to teach young people about the Bill of Rights. The lesson plans are: "Mindwalk: An Introduction to the Law or How the Bill of Rights Affects Our Lives"; "Bill of Rights Bingo"; "The Classroom 'Constitutional…

This book, intended for juveniles and young students, provides an encyclopedic collection of reference information about the U.S. Supreme Court. The articles are arranged alphabetically to aid in looking up words, ideas, or names. Lists of "see also" entries are located at the end of articles to refer the reader to related subjects. The…

This resource packet contains a variety of teaching strategies designed for teachers to help students better understand the historical development and contemporary significance of the Bill of Rights. Forty-seven activities are included for both elementary and secondary students. The packet also includes a glossary and lists books for young…

More than 200 years after its founding, the U.S. government continues to thrive on argument, dispute, and debate. For citizens to be fully engaged in the political process, they must continue to participate in the tradition of public discourse exemplified by the ratification debate of 1787-88. College-Community Forums are designed to further…

Materials and resources to aid teachers in the instructional process on the U.S. Constitution are annotated in this document. The 50 listings include: (1) teaching materials; (2) periodicals; (3) audio-visual materials; and (4) background books. Each of the annotations includes: (1) a citation; (2) a description of the item; and (3) source…

Traces the legal history of the school flag movement and efforts of religious groups to have the mandatory salute abolished. Suggests that schools must educate students for true citizenship and what it means to live in a democracy. Argues that the flag should be a symbol of freedom rather than the object of empty pledges. (DK)

This paper assesses efforts undertaken to promote teaching and learning about the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights during the years leading up to and including the bicentennial celebrations of these two documents. The assessment focuses on three specific topics: (1) patterns of content coverage; (2) materials for teachers and students; and…

This document is a teacher's guide to a series of mass transit advertisement posters illustrating Bill of Rights topics. The five posters in the series are discussed in five separate sections. Each section is divided into three units, each consisting of a learning activity, one for the secondary level, one for the middle school level, and one…