I’ve always described middle school as a period in a student’s life where he or she is having his or her own ideas for the first time. These ideas are primitive. Often times, students have no idea how to handle these ideas. Usually this manifests itself as misbehavior. Since students have no idea how to peacefully communicate their thoughts, they do it in inappropriate ways. When students learn about the rights they have in conjunction with these first feelings, things can get even more dangerous. Students think I have the right speak freely why can’t I tell my parents and my teachers off? Why are dress codes even legal? These questions are all important and help students to understand what they are learning even more. Students have a right to ask these questions, as teachers, we serve as the facilitator of those discussions. They are often delicate, but it is important for students to ask the questions so they can learn how to appropriately discuss the answers.
The questions of the constitution bring up and the rights that it provides help students to understand their own feelings and emotions. During discussions that involve rights it is important to talk about consequences. Students don’t all have the link between their rights and the consequences of exercising their rights. I also think it is important to study the entire Bill of Rights from an objective point of view and allow students to interpret the Bill of Rights in their own way. It might be hard with today’s current media and what is questioned about the Bill of Rights in the media, but using the prior knowledge of students and what they have heard will only make them more effective interpreters.
I also feel like it is important for students to learn about the compromises that took place. There are so many issues that for middle school students seem black and white. Some issues, that students are tunnel visioned to that get them into trouble because they can’t see the other person’s side. Knowing that our nation, and what they are learning, are all results of a compromise will help students to understand the importance of compromise in their everyday life. By practicing how the framers of the constitution compromised, by engaging in simulation, they practice a skill they need for their own lives. The compromises that formed our nation are what made it stronger and students will be able to recognize those things as they move forward in their US History studies. When they see how the bicameral legislature, a result of a compromise, has helped our nation to check and balance laws and decision making, they will see a benefit of compromise. Looking at primary sources for these compromises will also be beneficial because students will be able to see that compromise did not come easily.
Students need to understand that being a citizen of this country comes with responsibilities. The first step to understanding those responsibilities is understanding what it means to be a citizen of this country and how free we are to exercise our rights and the responsibilities that come along with those rights. Therefore it is pivotal that students study the constitution and do it in a reflective and meaningful way.
The questions of the constitution bring up and the rights that it provides help students to understand their own feelings and emotions. During discussions that involve rights it is important to talk about consequences. Students don’t all have the link between their rights and the consequences of exercising their rights. I also think it is important to study the entire Bill of Rights from an objective point of view and allow students to interpret the Bill of Rights in their own way. It might be hard with today’s current media and what is questioned about the Bill of Rights in the media, but using the prior knowledge of students and what they have heard will only make them more effective interpreters.
I also feel like it is important for students to learn about the compromises that took place. There are so many issues that for middle school students seem black and white. Some issues, that students are tunnel visioned to that get them into trouble because they can’t see the other person’s side. Knowing that our nation, and what they are learning, are all results of a compromise will help students to understand the importance of compromise in their everyday life. By practicing how the framers of the constitution compromised, by engaging in simulation, they practice a skill they need for their own lives. The compromises that formed our nation are what made it stronger and students will be able to recognize those things as they move forward in their US History studies. When they see how the bicameral legislature, a result of a compromise, has helped our nation to check and balance laws and decision making, they will see a benefit of compromise. Looking at primary sources for these compromises will also be beneficial because students will be able to see that compromise did not come easily.
Students need to understand that being a citizen of this country comes with responsibilities. The first step to understanding those responsibilities is understanding what it means to be a citizen of this country and how free we are to exercise our rights and the responsibilities that come along with those rights. Therefore it is pivotal that students study the constitution and do it in a reflective and meaningful way.