iCivics Challenge:
Join the iCivics Impact Challenge and enter for a chance to win* a VGo Robot and videoconference session with retired Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor for your school. Through the iCivics Impact Challenge, students can extend the learning beyond Constitution Day by visiting icivics.org and playing educational games related to the Supreme Court, the U.S. Constitution, presidential roles and other civics-related topics.
For additional lessons, interactive games and activities, visit the Constitution Day classroom collection.
Mission:
To enhance the teaching of Tennessee civics, law, justice, citizenship, history, government and humanities in Tennessee K-12 schools through professional development programs for Tennessee teachers and legal resource people, and through statewide civic and law-related programs for students.
To be a dynamic community prevention partner dedicated to building safe and healthy communities through shared knowledge, skill and capacity development.
Teaching American History Grant:
The program is designed to raise studentachievement by improving teachers' knowledge and understanding of and appreciation for traditional U.S. history and Tennessee Civics. Grant awards will assist LEAs, in partnership with entities that have content expertise, to develop, document, evaluate, and disseminate innovative and cohesive models of professional development. By helping teachers to develop a deeper understanding and appreciation of U.S. history as a separate subject matter within the core curriculum, these programs will improve instruction and raise student achievement.
David Hudson Writes New Book:
Let the Students Speak! details the rich history and growth of the First Amendment in public schools, from the early nineteenth-century's failed student free-expression claims to the development of protection for students by the U.S. Supreme Court. David Hudson brings this history vividly alive by drawing from interviews with key student litigants in famous cases, including John Tinker of Tinker v. Des Moines Independent School District and Joe Frederick of the "Bong Hits 4 Jesus" case, Morse v. Frederick. He goes on to discuss the raging free-speech controversies in public schools today, including dress codes and uniforms, cyberbullying, and the regulation of any violent-themed expression in a post-Columbine and Virginia Tech environment. This book should be required reading for students, teachers, and school administrators alike.
Use Special Promo Code: TCCLE
Consider signing the following petition
Petition reminding all that schools are about preparing students for College, Career and CITIZENSHIP:
The Campaign is sponsoring a petition campaign to remind all policymakers of the essential and historic role schools play in providing the knowledge, skills and disposition for informed and engaged citizenship. The goal of education is more then preparing students for higher education and a successful career; equally important is the role schools play in providing civic participation skills. We are calling this the "Three C-s of Education Petition Campaign." This petition is designed to remind policymakers and the public of the essential civic mission of schools. The petition language is attached. We ask you all to sign the petition. We also ask all associated with CMS to publicize the petition widely through your communication networks. We encourage those with websites to place the petition 'widget' on your site, providing a link to the petition page. The petition drive was launched at the annual conference of the National Council for the Social Studies where well over 1,500 signatures were gathered. This petition will be presented to local, state and federal education policymakers in 2011.
