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Twelfth Grade Modern Problems
TITLE
Twelfth Grade Modern Problems
TEXTBOOK
None
DESCRIPTION
This is a full year elective course. The first semester will focus on our
criminal justice system, and the second semester will focus on other social
problems in our country. One of the goals of the course will be to get students
to understand the problems, formulate their opinions, and be able to defend
their opinions. Students will not have textbooks, but rather will be given hand
outs, with an effort to give balance and updated information on issues. An
emphasis will be on student participation in class discussion and working in
groups.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
1. Students will the list and differentiate the causes and types of crimes
committed, including felonies and misdemeanors, white-collar crimes, victimless
crimes, and street crimes, and the penalties for the various felonies and
misdemeanors.
2. Students will examine the role of police, and analyze court cases dealing
with the rights of a person accused of a crime.
3. Students will compare the roles of both prosecution and defense attorneys,
including the process of bail and plea bargaining.
4. Students will examine and analyze the process of sentencing by a judge,
including prison, and the alternatives to prison, such as probation, fines,
restitution, house arrest, and community service.
5. Students will examine our prison system, including the origins of prisons,
and compare the types of prisons (maximum, medium, minimum). This will include a
study of both men's and women's prisons; both nationally and in Nebraska.
6. Students will identify and compare the different purposes and programs within
the prison system, and rank the successes and failures of different programs in
dealing with those who break the law.
7. Students will examine the parole system, including the reasons for parole,
and will simulate how the process works.
8. Students will examine the subject of capital punishment, and list and analyze
arguments in favor of and against, and U.S. Supreme Court rulings.
9. Students will examine the topic of censorship of books in public schools,
including reasons for and against censorship, and examples of reasons for and
against censorship of books.
10. Students will examine the process of hiring and firing of teachers, and list
valid reasons for both, and U.S. Supreme Court rulings.
11. Students will examine the rights and responsibilities of students in public
schools, including court rulings attempting to balance the rights and freedoms
of students with the right of schools to maintain control.
Free Speech/expression
School Publications
Due Process for students
Search & seizure
12. Students will examine the subject of prayer in public schools, including
Supreme Court rulings on this subject.
13. Students will examine the topic of prejudice, and define discrimination,
racism, stereotype, scapegoat, tolerance, minority.
14. Students will examine the causes and effects of prejudice, and apply those
causes and effects to different groups of people.
15. Students will examine immigration in the United States, including current
immigration laws, and list the contributions of various groups.
16. Students will evaluate and explain affirmative action laws, including the
causes and effects of the laws today, and recent court rulings.
17. Students will examine the topic of sexual harassment, including the reasons
for sexual harassment, the effects, and possible solutions.
18. Students will examine the topic of abuse, including reasons for abuse
between partners, the effects, and possible solutions.
19. Students will list and examine reasons for the drug problem in America, and
reasons why people dont use drugs.
20. Students will analyze the different effects and possible solutions to the
drug problem in America.
WRITING ACTIVITIES
1. Students will write an essay dealing with a search and seizure case, telling
whether or not the search by the police was legal and their rationale.
2. Students will write a list of similarities and differences of men's and
women's prisons.
3. Students will work in groups and design their own prison. Students are
required to turn in a written outline/description as well as their sketch.
4. Students will answer questions on capital punishment, and write the legal
rationale over a series of hypothetical cases dealing with the aggravating and
mitigating circumstances dealing with first degree murder.
5. Students will review a book censorship case, and will write describing the
views of the principal parties, as well as their own opinions.
6. Students will research and write a report on their ancestors. The report will
include when they came to America, from where they came, and why they came.
MULTICULTURE ACTVITIES
1. Students will write and report to the class on their ancestors. The goal is
to show the many reasons people have come to this country, as well as develop a
better understanding and pride of their heritage.
2. As part of the prejudice unit, we will focus on the events leading up to the
civil rights movement, such as the peaceful demonstrations and sit-ins. Students
will see the conditions many African Americans went through, and how they
attempted to resolve their problems.
3. Students will study various stereotypes of different racial and ethnic
groups, and try to show why they are stereotypes. Students will be able to
discuss their own views on racism and prejudice, with an effort made to better
understand people of all races and ethnic backgrounds. Hopefully, students will
realize that its best to judge by a person's actions or character, not by the
color of their skin.
4. Students will study the topic of Affirmative Action, to show the past job
discrimination that African Americans, Native Americans, Hispanic Americans and
women in the U.S. had faced.
5. In order to help students to better understand each gender, the class will
study the topics of women's rights, sexual harassment, and abuse. Hopefully, the
girls will have a greater pride and self esteem, and the boys will be more
sensitive to the needs and problems women face.
