Law Related Education Project: Evaluation Report, 1980-1982

DOCUMENT RESUME

ED 231 861 TM 830 411

AUTHOR Smith, Helen TITLE Law Related Education Project: Evaluation Report, 1980-1982.

INSTITUTION - Memphis City'School System, Tenn. SPONS AGENCY Department of Education, Washington, DC. PUB DATE Nov 82 NOTE 254p. PUB TYPE ileports Evalliative/Feasibility (142)

EDRS PRICE MF01/PC11 Plus Postage. DESCRIPTORS Citizenship Education; *Curriculum Development; *Curriculum.Evaluation; Elementary Secondary Education; *Evaluation Methods;yormative Evaluation; Inservice .Teacher Education; *Legal Education; *Program Evaluation IDENTIFIERS *Memphis City Schools TN

ABSTRACT Since 1980 the Memphis City Schools Law-Related Education Curriculum Project (IRE) has identified And organized concepts in law content into curriculum guides suitable for elementary and.secondary education teachers. Lesson plans include instructional activities and suggestions to teachers for infusing the law-related materials into the standard curricurum subjects. The project goal is to equip students with knowledge and skills pertaining to the law, the legal process and legal system, and the fundamental principles and values on which these are based. Eight tasks to be accomplished are descnibed, with formative evaluation reports. The tasks include: (1) building support in the community and among professional educator groups; (2) identifying law-related content for the kindergarten through grade 12 curriculum; (3) training teachers in law-related content and the curriculum infusion process; (4) curriculum writing; (5) curriculum pilot testing; (6) curriculum revising; (7) developing a resource center for LRE Materials; and (8) developing instruments suitable for evaluation of the,project's overall objective. Involvement of the project in the state mock-trial compeiition, a summary of test results for the Teaching Law Training Course, and the results of the assessments of student achievement in LRE and attitudes toward lak in the pilot classes are described. (CM)

*********************************************************************** Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. *********************************************************************** , U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF EDUCATION EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER IERICI LAW RELATED EDUCATION PROJECT Tfus document has been reproduced as received from the person or organization originating it. Minor changes have been made to improve reproduction quahty,

EVALUATION REPORT Points of wew or opinions stated in this doctn. ment do nOt necessanIy represent officiat NIE position Or poky, 180-1982 "PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE THIS

, MATERIAL HAS BEEN GRANTED BY H.C. S4

TO THE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC)."

O. Z. STEPHENS, EMIL, DIRECTOR DIVISION OF RESEARCH,SERVICES

JOHNNIE B. WATSONASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT, 4= DEPARTMENT OF PUPIL SERVICES

NOVEMBER 1982

DIVISION.OF RESEARCH PREPARED BY. MEMPHIS cin SCHOOLS HELEN SMITH, ED.D, MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE 38112 RESEARCH CONSULTANT EVALUATIONREPORT

LAW RELATED EDUCATIONCURRICLUUM PROJECT

1980-1982

MEMPHIS CITY SCHOOLS

BOARD OF EDUCATION

Dr. Tom Stern, President Dr. J. C. Williams, Vice President Mr. James Blackburn Mr. George Brawn, Jr. Mr..Carl Johnson Mrs. Bert Prosterman Dr. Mal Mauney Mrs. Maxine Smith

0 Dr. W. W. Herenton, Superintendent

Mrs. Callie Stevens, Asst. Superintendent Department of Curriculum and Instrudtion

Dr. David M. Mbore, Director Division of. Elementary-Secondary Education

Mks., Barbara Williams, birector Division'of Curriculum Development

Project Coordinator Mrs; Catherine Pickle Consultant, Social Studies Mrs. Carlee Whipple Consultant, Elementary

Mr. Harry H. Raney Editor/Writer Ridgeway High School

f.) ADVISORY COUNCIL 1980-1982

Chairman WillieVare, Secondary Teacher Dr. Nicholas White, Dean 1807 State Street Memphis State University Law School Memphis, TN 38114 Arthur T. Bennett, Judge Patricia DeBardeleben Criminal Court, Shelby County Elementary Teacher 157 Poplar Avenue 5520 kason Memphis, TN38163 Memphis, TV38117 'Nancy ,Sorak, Judge Veronica Coleman,-Attorney Municipal Court 100 North.Main Building 160 Adams Memphis, TN38103 Memphis, TN38103 Mrs.. Janice Calhoun

Newton P. Allen, Attorney ' Parent Teacher Association 1 Commerce Square Tower 4446 Crescent Park Drive Memphis, TN38103 Memphis, TN -38138 Jean Taylor, Human Services A. C. Wharton Commerce Title Building Public Defender 12 S. Main 1339A 147 Jefferson Street Memphis, TN38103 Memphis, TN .38103 William Ingram, Referee John Fowlkes, Attorney Juvenile Court 157 Poplar Avenue 616 Adams, P.O. Box 13. Memphit, TN38103 Memphis, TN 38101 M. 1. Pinkston, Charles F. Gray Social Studies Specialist Chief Probation Officer State Department of Education Juvenile Court Memphis State University 616 Adams, P.O. Box 13, Memphis, TN 38152 Carol Calane, Junior League Charlotte Collins, Attorney 198 Picardy Pl. 146 N. Third Striet Memphis, TN38111 Dermon Building Memphis, TN 18103 Dr. Thomas Hickey, Psychologist Memphis Police Department Dr.liose'Yvonne Hooks ,160 Adams Street Shelby State Community College Memphis, TN38103 P.O. Box 40568. Memphis,'TN38101 Dr. John T. Rutland Memphis Assoc. of Independent Schools Fred Thompson, President _2100 N. Germantown Road Student Councils Co.dova, TN 38106 2414 Alcy Memphis, TN 38114 Virgil E. Lawrence Chapter-I-Guidance Prospect Guidance Center 2300 Hernando Rd. Memphis, TN38106

cj Table of Contents

Page

Introduction 1

Needs Addressed by the Project 1

Task Analysis Relative to the,Project Goal 2

Formative Evaluation Relative to Eight Tasks Identified

As.Essefitial Steps in AcOomplishing the Project's - -Major Goal 4

Task 4l - Building Support for the Project in the

' 6.mmanity and Among Professional Groups , 4

i Involvement of the LRE Project in tile State

I Mock-Trial Competition ...... 6

. Task 1/2 2 - Identificatvion of Law-Related Content for the K-12 Curriculum 8

Task #3 - Training of Teachers, 37

ISummary of Test Results for the Teaching Law Training Course Condlipted by Shelby State Community College and Mamphis Area Legal Services 41

Revisions im the'Teacher Training Process 49

Task #4 - Curriculum Writing . . . 51

Task #5 - Curriculum Pilot ..

'1.ask #6 - Curiliculum Revision v 68 , Task 117 - Development of a Resource Center for LRE

Curiiculum,Materials . . 81

Task 118 - Development of Instruments for Evaluatidn of Project s Overall Objective Regarding Student Achievement and Attitude' 81

(Evaluation of Pilot Classes ative to AccomplishMent of the ;--Project's Major Goal to Increa mmwledge and Skill Pertaining to-Law-and-to-Increase StudentsAppr ciation of our Legal Systems 136

Results of Assessment of Student Achievement in LRE Curriculum Materials 136 1, Tablehcf Contents (Continued)

Page

Results of Assessment of Student Attitude Toward Law in Pilot Classes 145

Evaluation Activities Planned for the Next Reporting' Period 152 I Summary 152

Appendix 1 156

0 Introduction

The Memphis City Schools Law-aelated EduCation*rridulum Project

has been operating with funds obtained from the United States Office of

Education since the fall of 130. The work of,the project has been to

identify concepts in law content from practical areas such as consumer

law, family law, individual rights and criminal law, and to organize these

*concepts ihto curriculum guides for kindergarten through grade 12 teachers.

These guides present the concepts in lesson plans which include instructional

activities suitable for the age and gra(471evel of the students. The

guides provide suggeStions to'teachers for infusing the-law-related cur-

riculum materials into the standard curriculum subjects.Although at the

secondary leve