Implementation & Recruitment Implementation & Recruitment

The Need for Justice Teaching Surveys show: Surveys show: Citizens in general know little about the operations of our justice system Citizens in general know little about the operations of our justice system Only 59 % of Floridians can identify the 3 branches (Florida Bar poll) Only 59 % of Floridians can identify the 3 branches (Florida Bar poll) Only 55 % of Americans could do so (ABA poll) Only 55 % of Americans could do so (ABA poll)

The Need for Justice Teaching Surveys show: Surveys show: Some do not understand the separation of powers Some do not understand the separation of powers 7 % of Floridians think “independent judiciary” means judges can make any decision they like (Florida Bar poll) 7 % of Floridians think “independent judiciary” means judges can make any decision they like (Florida Bar poll) Only 46 % of Floridians could identify “separation of powers” as the system of checks and balances (Florida Bar poll) Only 46 % of Floridians could identify “separation of powers” as the system of checks and balances (Florida Bar poll)

The Need for Justice Teaching Surveys show: Surveys show: 22% of Americans believe the 3 branches of government are Republican, Democrat, & Independent branches (ABA survey) 22% of Americans believe the 3 branches of government are Republican, Democrat, & Independent branches (ABA survey) 33% of Americans are unable to name even 1 the 3 branches of government (Annenberg survey) 33% of Americans are unable to name even 1 the 3 branches of government (Annenberg survey)

The Need for Justice Teaching Surveys show: Surveys show: Only 53% of Americans believe the President must follow U.S. Supreme Court Rulings (Annenberg survey) Only 53% of Americans believe the President must follow U.S. Supreme Court Rulings (Annenberg survey) 38% of American adults believe President has power to ignore U.S. Supreme Court rulings if President believes it would impede his desires. 38% of American adults believe President has power to ignore U.S. Supreme Court rulings if President believes it would impede his desires.

The Need for Justice Teaching Surveys show: Surveys show: 62% of Americans believe the courts favor the wealthy or powerful 62% of Americans believe the courts favor the wealthy or powerful 35% of Americans think each branch of government has power but President has final word 35% of Americans think each branch of government has power but President has final word Average college & university freshman could answer only 52% of civic literacy questions (Boston Globe) Average college & university freshman could answer only 52% of civic literacy questions (Boston Globe)

The Need for Justice Teaching Surveys show: Surveys show: Average college & university senior could answer only 53% of civic literacy questions (Boston Globe) Average college & university senior could answer only 53% of civic literacy questions (Boston Globe) 51% of seniors did not know that Bill of Rights expressly prohibits a national religion (Boston Globe) 51% of seniors did not know that Bill of Rights expressly prohibits a national religion (Boston Globe) At 33% of schools, seniors scored lower than freshmen At 33% of schools, seniors scored lower than freshmen

The Need for Justice Teaching Which schools surveyed? Which schools surveyed? Cornell Cornell Yale Yale Duke Duke Georgetown Georgetown Brown Brown U.C. Berkeley (Boston Globe) U.C. Berkeley (Boston Globe)

Colleges & Universities Exposed to values of: Exposed to values of: Political correctness Political correctness Diversity Diversity Secularism Secularism Personal rights Personal rights Global warming Global warming

Colleges & Universities Know less about: Know less about: American history American history American civic institutions American civic institutions Constitutional structure & relationships Constitutional structure & relationships

Who Votes? Surveys show: Surveys show: Regular voters – 35% of Americans voted in the last election and will vote in the next Regular voters – 35% of Americans voted in the last election and will vote in the next Intermittent voters – 20% of Americans registered but do not always vote Intermittent voters – 20% of Americans registered but do not always vote Registered but rare – 23% of Americans rarely vote Registered but rare – 23% of Americans rarely vote Unregistered adults – 22% of Americans (Pew Research) Unregistered adults – 22% of Americans (Pew Research)

Who Are Regular Voters? Surveys show: Surveys show: 37% of Caucasians 37% of Caucasians 31% of African Americans 31% of African Americans 24% of Hispanics 24% of Hispanics 42% of persons 50 & older 42% of persons 50 & older 35% of persons % of persons % of persons (Pew Research) 22% of persons (Pew Research)

Who Are Not Registered to Vote? Surveys show: Surveys show: 40% of persons % of persons % of persons % of persons % of persons 50 & older (Pew Research) 14% of persons 50 & older (Pew Research)

Desired Outcomes for the Public Correct misconceptions Correct misconceptions Explain the structure & function of the courts Explain the structure & function of the courts Reinforce the rule of law Reinforce the rule of law Strengthen public trust & confidence in our justice system Strengthen public trust & confidence in our justice system

Justice Teaching Target Audiences Elementary school students Elementary school students Middle school students Middle school students High school students High school students

Justice Teaching Goals Help promote an understanding of Florida’s justice system & laws Help promote an understanding of Florida’s justice system & laws Develop critical thinking abilities and problem solving skills Develop critical thinking abilities and problem solving skills Demonstrate to students effective interaction of Florida’s courts within the constitutional structure Demonstrate to students effective interaction of Florida’s courts within the constitutional structure

Justice Teaching Program Governance The Select Committee on Justice Teaching’s membership reflects the geographic structure of the State Courts System The Select Committee on Justice Teaching’s membership reflects the geographic structure of the State Courts System Governance will follow this same geographic structure Governance will follow this same geographic structure

State Courts System Circuits

State Courts System Districts

Select Committee Responsibilities Develop a plan that pairs at least one judge or other legal professional (Justice Teaching resource) with each Florida school Develop a plan that pairs at least one judge or other legal professional (Justice Teaching resource) with each Florida school Cultivate relationships & maintain regular contact with schools & school officials Cultivate relationships & maintain regular contact with schools & school officials

Select Committee Responsibilities Oversee development, distribution, & implementation of model curricula for use in schools Oversee development, distribution, & implementation of model curricula for use in schools Curricula will educate students about the structure, function, and purpose of the judicial branch Curricula will educate students about the structure, function, and purpose of the judicial branch

Select Committee Responsibilities Participate in creating a state plan for Justice Teaching Participate in creating a state plan for Justice Teaching Develop supporting materials for special events like Constitution Day & Law Day Develop supporting materials for special events like Constitution Day & Law Day Recruit Justice Teaching volunteers Recruit Justice Teaching volunteers

Select Committee Responsibilities Provide ongoing support to Justice Teaching volunteers Provide ongoing support to Justice Teaching volunteers Develop publications, lesson plans, workshops, & networking activities to maintain Justice Teaching volunteers’ knowledge of the latest law-related education materials & techniques Develop publications, lesson plans, workshops, & networking activities to maintain Justice Teaching volunteers’ knowledge of the latest law-related education materials & techniques

Select Committee Responsibilities Explore the availability of grants and other resources to support all programs used by Justice Teaching volunteers Explore the availability of grants and other resources to support all programs used by Justice Teaching volunteers Monitor and evaluate the Justice Teaching program on an ongoing basis Monitor and evaluate the Justice Teaching program on an ongoing basis

Implementing Justice Teaching: Practical Steps Recruit volunteer base Recruit volunteer base Volunteer sources: Volunteer sources: Court employees Court employees Statewide & local voluntary bar associations Statewide & local voluntary bar associations Methods: Methods: Newsletters/articles Newsletters/articles Mailouts/ Mailouts/ Speeches at local bar meetings Speeches at local bar meetings Holding Justice Teaching Q&A sessions Holding Justice Teaching Q&A sessions

Implementing Justice Teaching: Practical Steps Contact schools Contact schools Superintendents Superintendents Teachers/Social studies departments Teachers/Social studies departments Train & prepare volunteers Train & prepare volunteers Complete necessary paperwork Complete necessary paperwork Provide substantive training Provide substantive training Assess volunteers’ strengths Assess volunteers’ strengths Link volunteers with suitable schools and grade levels Link volunteers with suitable schools and grade levels

Status Florida Public Schools – 2,850 Florida Public Schools – 2,850 Justice Teaching Lawyers & Judges – 3,275 Justice Teaching Lawyers & Judges – 3,275 Training Sessions – 22 Training Sessions – Counties have all public schools covered 24 Counties have all public schools covered Some counties need 1 or 2 schools covered Some counties need 1 or 2 schools covered Lee County, Pinellas County – 40 schools not covered Lee County, Pinellas County – 40 schools not covered

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