November 6, 2015 – On Election Day, Nov. 3, the Justice Resource Center (JRC) hosted 15 teachers for a Professional Development day on bringing civic education programs to their classrooms. Teachers role played attorneys and Justices in a Supreme Court First Amendment case, argued the rights of student speech, and presented on public policy issues in the community. The PD session focused on The Constitution Works and Project Citizen, two programs that engage students in learning about the Constitution, preparing and presenting arguments, and taking an active role in civics.
Nicole Feliciano, middle school teacher at West Prep Academy MS 421 and Project Citizen teacher extraordinaire, lead the group in an analysis of common nursery rhymes and embedded community issues. The PD brought teachers with experience teaching law/civics and teachers new to the field together in an enlightening and informative discussion. For an overview of both programs, please visit our program webpages at The Constitution Works and Project Citizen. Programs are appropriate for elementary, middle and high school level and are aligned to Common Core. Each program includes a class book set and culminating event at a reasonable cost.If you have any questions, or are interested in the program(s), please call the JRC at 212-580-5905.