Teaching Law Through Teaching Students Legal Principles that Affect Them

In a prior blog post, I discussed the importance of experience in learning about the legal system and its powers. I discussed the idea that while it can sometimes be hard to fully appreciate certain constitutional principles like popular sovereignty, limited government, separation of powers, checks and balances, judicial review, and federalism, the concepts are extremely tangible when made real by experience, or observation. Legal principles become particularly learn-able when relevant to one's day-to-day experiences. Thus, I was intrigued to read an article about teaching techniques in Sayville Middle School, located in upstate New York. In Sayville, middle school students learn about the legal repercussions of cyber-bullying, illegal music downloads, and even the criteria for becoming a lawyer. I came across an article about a place in upstate New York, namely, Sayville Middle School where sixth grade students are learning about the legal repercussions of cyber-bullying, illegal music downloads, and even the criteria for becoming a lawyer. Implied in the article I read was that the students are made to appreciate the legal process by understanding how the law addresses these issues. One can envision an introduction to the entire legal system by studying a trial on illegal music downloads and copying. After all, factored in is criminal law, intellectual property law, contract law, constitutional law, and if a trial process is studied, evidence. Admittedly I have no idea what precisely is being taught in the course that gave rise to the article, but I am excited to read that twelve and thirteen year-olds are being introduced to the legal process through things that affect them.