Street Law Leads Federal Courts Workshop in Missouri

On Monday, February 13, 35 teachers gathered at the Eagleton Courthouse in St. Louis to explore federal courts and constitutional controversies with Street Law. The first of two days of professional development for Missouri social studies teachers, the Monday sessions explored the nomination of Judge Gorsuch to the Supreme Court, the Second Amendment and gun control, and a current Supreme Court case about the Missouri constitution’s ban on government funds for religious groups. Teachers also collaborated to identify what civic skills, knowledge, and dispositions they want to help their students develop.

Tuesday will bring a deliberation on current immigration issues and a moot court of another famous Missouri case – Hazelwood v. Kuhlmeier. On both days, the participants will learn from guest experts, judges, former appellate law clerks, and other teachers.

Millie Aulbur, director of citizenship education at The Missouri Bar, said, “The Missouri Bar is thrilled to sponsor this workshop. Street Law is one of the premiere civic education programs in the nation and their programming and materials are superb.”

This workshop is organized by The Missouri Bar and the Judicial Learning Center, and sponsored by The Missouri Bar and The Missouri Bar Foundation, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, the Judicial Learning Center, the Federal Practice Memorial Trust, and the Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis.

Street Law is thrilled to be invited to spend two days digging into current, controversial issues with local teachers. Together, we’ll practice engaging teaching strategies and simulations, and work to translate them into the social studies classroom.

To learn more about how to bring Street Law professional development to teachers in your area, contact Jen Wheeler.