Democracy, civics and active participation in the community are not things with which we are born — they must be learned. Which is why Classroom Law Project brings vital and engaging civics and law-related education programs into Oregon schools, teaching students at all grade levels the values and skills essential to being a participating citizen in our democracy. Each year, our innovative, timely, practical and fun programs involve and inspire over 400 teachers and 24,000 students from 250 schools in 75 Oregon communities.

Lincoln High School Places First in We the People National Finals! 

After three days of simulated congressional hearings on the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights, Lincoln High School of Portland, Oregon, won first place in the the 25th Anniversary We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution National Finals.  Maggie L. Walker Governor’s School of Richmond, Virginia, placed second and Arcadia High School of Arcadia, California, finished third. Click here to learn more and view video footage of the National hearings.

Legal Citizen Dinner Raises Over $134,000 for Civics Education!

Over 440 guests gathered at the Governor Hotel in Portland to honor Legal Citizen honoree, Jim Westwood, and Civic Educator of the Year, Richard English.  The program included 1960′s video footage of Jim Westwood leading Portland State victory in the College Bowl, as well as a We the People presentation by the Lincoln High School Constitution Team (who became National Champions one week later) and a number of speakers who both entertained and inspired the diverse audience of judges, teachers, lawyers, students, bankers and other civic leaders.  In addition to honoring the work of two outstanding civic leaders, the dinner raised over $134,000 for Classroom Law Project and the many programs it administers for civic education.  Thank you to everyone who attended the dinner, made donations or helped behind the scenes to make this year’s Legal Citizen Dinner the most successful yet!  View and purchase photos from the Legal Citizen Dinner.

Announcing the Debut of Classroom Law Project’s New Video

Law Day Registration Now Open!

Law Day is a conference for high school students. It is one day of energizing and thought-provoking seminars at Portland State University.  Law Day features 18 different workshops on legal issues concerning and of concern to youth. More than 500 students from Oregon and southwest Washington participate and learn from scholars, activists and other experts. Click here to learn more and register.

iCivics: Civics Education for a New Generation

iCivics is a web-based education project designed to teach students civics and inspire them to be active participants in our democracy. iCivics is the vision of Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, who is concerned that students are not getting the information and tools they need for civic participation, and that civics teachers need better materials and support.

• GAMES – Specifically designed for classroom use, these games are fun, engaging, and aligned with state standards.
• LESSON PLANS – Written by master teachers, the lessons reinforce and expand on the games.
• INTERACTIVE ACTIVITIES – Interactive features such as a message board, recognition of student service, and competitions further engage students to create their own civic ideas and projects.
• MORE TO COME – iCivics is currently developing additional games, lesson plans, and interactive activities that incorporate topics including: Balance of Power, Foundations of Government, and Civic Engagement.

Learn more at www.icivics.org.

SPECIAL REPORT: Civic Skills and Federal Policy

On April 29, 2010, scholars, civic leaders, and federal officials met in Washington to develop a federal policy agenda for civic skills. The conference was convened by CIRCLE at Tufts University’s Jonathan M. Tisch College of Citizenship and Public Service. It was co-sponsored by the Campaign for the Civic Mission of Schools and Strengthening Our Nation’s Democracy (SOND).

Click here to read the full report.

Volunteer Opportunities

Court Tour Guide, Mock Trial Coach, We the People Judge…CLP is always looking for a few good women and men to make our programs as valuable as possible for the thousands of teachers and students we work with every year.

Whether you are an attorney or not, if you have an hour to spare or all the time in the world, we would love to hear from you!

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Stay informed about CLP’s programs, new workshops, and coming events. When you sign up for email updates, you can specify which programs are of interest to you, update your contact information, and more.  Click here to sign up or edit your preferences…