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: BoardBuzz: NSBA's Daily Weblog

21st century civics lessons

It's hard to imagine a former Supreme Court justice advocating the importance of playing computer games, but that is exactly what Sandra Day O'Conner is doing. Pairing up with Georgetown University Law Center and Arizona State University , Justice O'Conner is in the works of creating a new interactive Web site to teach students about civics. (During her address to school board members and conference attendees at NSBA's Annual Conference this spring, O'Connor discussed the importance of a strong civics education for students.) Thanks to The New York Times, BoardBuzz was able to learn more about this work in progress. The Web site, www.ourcourts.org, is designed to give 7th, 8th, and 9th graders a better knowledge about our government.

"We can?t forget that the primary purpose of public schools in America has always been to help produce citizens who have the knowledge and the skills and the values to sustain our republic as a nation, our democratic form of government," said Justice O'Conner

BoardBuzz can't wait to check out the Web site when it becomes available this fall. Justice O'Conner admitted to not playing computer games, but it's clear she recognizes their importance to promote learning. On the Web site, students will "learn by doing" and have the ability to argue legal issues against computers and each other. We're curious to see how students will respond to one of the first exercises that will take up First Amendment issues concerning a public school's ability to censor their students' speech in their school papers or on clothing. For more information on Justice O'Conner's plan, take a look at post on the Games for Change blog.

Full post as published by BoardBuzz: NSBA's Daily Weblog on June 10, 2008 (boomark / email).