THE SUPREME COURT HISTORICAL SOCIETY

EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS:SECONDARY SCHOOL TEACHERS: THE SOCIETY AND STREET LAW, INC. OFFER THE SUPREME COURT SUMMER INSTITUTE FOR SECONDARY SCHOOL TEACHERS. THE INSTITUTE IMPROVES THE LEVEL OF INSTRUCTION ON THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM AT THE SECONDARY SCHOOL LEVEL, REACHING STUDENTS WHILE THEY ARE DEVELOPING AN AWARENESS OF THEIR RIGHTS AND DUTIES AS CITIZENS. TEACHERS OBSERVE THE COURT IN SESSION, REVIEW ACTUAL CASES UNDER CONSIDERATION, AND HEAR LECTURES BY EXPERTS ON THE COURT. THE TEACHERS THEN PRODUCE LESSON PLANS FOR CLASSROOM INSTRUCTION AND TRAIN OTHER TEACHERS IN TECHNIQUES FOR INCORPORATING THE COURT INTO THE SOCIAL STUDIES CURRICULUM. THIS PROGRAM HAS MORE THAN 750 ALUMNI FROM ALMOST EVERY STATE AND U.S. POSSESSION. THE SOCIETY AND STREET LAW HAVE COLLABORATED TO BRING THE SUPREME COURT INSTITUTE TO TEACHERS AROUND THE COUNTRY WHO MIGHT OTHERWISE NOT BE ABLE TO ATTEND THE SUMMER PROGRAM. TEACHERS IN ATLANTA, NEW YORK AND ST. LOUIS HAVE PARTICIPATED IN THE REGIONAL SUPREME COURT SEMINAR.CIVICS EDUCATION: THE SUPREME COURT AND MY HOMETOWN IS THE NATIONAL CIVICS PROGRAM OF THE SUPREME COURT HISTORICAL SOCIETY. THIS INITIATIVE ENGAGES HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN A THOROUGH STUDY OF THE PROCESS AND SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES OF A CASE DECIDED BY THE SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES IN A UNIQUE AND PERSONALIZED WAY. PARTICIPANTS LEARN HOW THE JUDICIAL BRANCH INTERACTS WITH THE OTHER TWO BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT AND THEIR ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES AS ACTIVE CITIZENS. HOMETOWNS ALSO ENCOURAGES STUDENTS TO INTERACT WITH THEIR LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND COMMUNITY BASED ON WHAT THEY HAVE LEARNED IN THE STUDY. A DISTINGUISHING FEATURE OF THIS PROGRAM IS THE FOCUS ON SUPREME COURT CASES THAT ORIGINATED IN THE STUDENTS' HOMETOWNS AND LOCAL COURTS. BOTH THE CONSTITUTIONAL QUESTIONS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY OF THE CASES ARE EXPLORED THROUGH A LOCAL LENS. THE COURSE OF STUDY IMMERSES STUDENTS IN A REVIEW OF THE FACTS, TRIALS, AND APPEALS THAT LED TO SUPREME COURT DECISIONS. AT THE END OF THE INQUIRY SESSIONS, STUDENTS COMPLETE A CAPSTONE PROJECT THAT FURTHER SOLIDIFIES THEIR LEARNING AND ENHANCES THEIR CREATIVE SKILLS. EACH FINAL PROJECT IS UNIQUE TO EACH COMMUNITY AND IS SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED TO PROMOTE INCREASED UNDERSTANDING OF THE IMPACT OF THE CASE.