Law Day 2023
Law Day is held on May 1st every year to celebrate the role of law in our society and to cultivate a deeper understanding of the legal profession. The American Bar Association has declared 2023's Law Day theme to be “Cornerstones of Democracy: Civics, Civility, and Collaboration” and invites all the people of the United States to join in rebuilding trust in our institutions, respect for one another, and our willingness to collaborate to address the challenges that face our nation.
The Judges in the Classroom program matches judges with teachers who would like them to deliver one of many vetted lesson plans to their students. As we prepare to celebrate Law Day in May, this piece is a supplement to Classifying Rights, a lesson in which students expand on their ability to define rights by categorizing and comparing those of different countries.
Often we hear people talk about voting rights, but what about rights to an education, health care, freedom in what we wear, clean water, and clean air?
What is a way we can organize the rights we expect in the different spheres of our lives in a way that makes sense? And how do some of our neighbors around the Pacific Rim think about their rights?
Each month’s calendar offers opportunities to celebrate our country’s people and our country’s ideals. A recurring theme of these celebrations is both acknowledging where and when in our history we have struggled to meet our goals — of being a country based on the rule of law, where the law is applied fairly to all — and celebrating where we have made great strides in achieving that ideal.
Essential Questions
What are rights?
What are the categories into which we classify rights (liberty, security, cultural, and group), and what are examples of each?
How would we identify and classify rights listed in the constitutions of five countries of the Pacific Rim?
What are some differences and similarities?
Civics knowledge, skills and dispositions
Civic education starts with understanding the basics of our government’s organization and founding principles. As with most learning, applying that knowledge to real life through civic engagement sparks more interest, more questions, and enhances the development of core civics skills such as critical thinking, problem analysis, and the ability to argue effectively from evidence. By participating and serving, practicing disagreeing while also respecting the rights of others, and deepening their understanding of the rule of law, students will strengthen their sense of agency and “voice,” in their schools, communities and government.
The reference staff at the Washington State Law Library has written about Law Day, and provides a variety of resources for teaching and learning. Look for their 2023 Law Day blog later this month here.
