FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 28, 2015
Contact: Lowell Brown
Communications Division Director, State Bar of Texas
(800) 204-2222, ext. 1713, or (512) 427-1713
lbrown@texasbar.com
Texas Bar Foundation funds video series for Texas students on principles of U.S. Constitution
AUSTIN — A Texas Bar Foundation grant will fund a Web-based video series to help Texas students learn about the U.S. government’s founding principles.
The $20,000 grant will allow the State Bar of Texas Law Related Education Department and Law Focused Education, Inc. to produce The Seven Principles of the U.S. Constitution, a video series explaining what the U.S. system of government is about and why it is different from other nations’ governments.
The series is designed as a fun, engaging, and educational way for students to learn the seven principles identified in the social studies standards of the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills:
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Popular sovereignty
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Republicanism
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Federalism
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Separation of powers
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Checks and balances
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Limited government
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Individual rights
The principles are required learning for students in fifth grade through high school, but they have proved to be some of the most difficult for students to master when tested, said Jan Miller, the State Bar’s law-related education director.
“It is not enough to teach the definition of the principles, as students are asked to analyze how these principles are reflected in the Constitution and understand the impact of these principles in American history,” Miller said. “The videos will explain the concepts and point out real-world examples students can relate to.”
The videos will be five to six minutes in length. Video viewing guides for each concept will be created as part of the project.
Since its inception in 1965, the Texas Bar Foundation has awarded more than $15 million in grants to law-related programs. Supported by members of the State Bar of Texas, the Texas Bar Foundation is the nation’s largest charitably funded bar foundation.
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The State Bar of Texas is an administrative agency of the Supreme Court of Texas that provides educational programs for the legal profession and the public, administers the minimum continuing legal education program for attorneys, and manages the attorney discipline system. For more information, follow the State Bar on Twitter @statebaroftexas, like the State Bar on Facebook at facebook.com/statebaroftexas, or visit texasbar.com.
The mission of the Law Focused Education, Inc. is to plan, promote, and support law-related education programs which are aimed at preparing elementary, middle, and high school students for effective, responsible citizenship, and which are committed to liberty, justice, and the rule of law. Law Focused Education, Inc. has a nonprofit advisory board that helps oversee State Bar efforts and is also structured to receive grant funding for law-related education projects. For more information, follow LRE on Twitter @Texas_LRE, like it on Facebook at facebook.com/texaslre, or visit texaslre.org.
