OBJECTIVE:
Students will discuss the importance of character building. Students will learn the importance of being productive, law abiding citizens.
Discussion Questions:
Why do we have classroom rules?
Why do we have laws which govern our land?
What do police do?
What do you think the police should do?
What is a criminal?
Where do convicted criminals go?
What should happen to kids who commit crimes?
Why do people commit crime?
What is a criminal record and how does it affent your life?
What type of career opportunities are available in the field of criminal justice?
MATERIALS NEEDED
Current information on kids and crime.
Articles on the new legislation regarding tougher sentencing for kids who commit adult crimes.
SPECIAL PROJECT
Investigate developing a project with the local police department. Try to have a team of officers come in once a week to discuss crime and the prevention of crime.
Design a plan whereby the police officers can serve as mentors for students. The plan could be to eat lunch once a week with a group of students, help with classwork, homework, computer games, etc. This plan will give the children an opportunity to develop a positive/respectful view of the police.
GUEST SPEAKERS:
The following people will present the positive side of the criminal justice system:
Lawyers, policemen, court clerk, judge, correctional officers, warden.
FIELD TRIPS:
Local Police Station, community correction center, court
WRITING ASSIGNMENT:
Provide student with story starters they are to complete the story by writing either a positive or negative outcome.
EXAMPLE OF STORY STARTER:
Scott, Sillip and Doug were best friends. They loved to explore the unknow things of nature. They loved to play basketball, baseball and football. They were all in the same grade in school.
Scott and Phillip lived with both parents. Scott’s parents were well educated and stressed the importance of having a good quality education. Phillip’s parents were older, not well educated people and did not realize the changes in society. Douglas lived with his mother until the age of 13 and then he went to live with his father who was the director of a juvenile boys detention home.
Both Scott and Douglas were involved in extracurricular sports. School and good grades were very important to their parents. Phillip’s parents didn’t really stress the importance of good grades and doing will in school. Phillip didn’t do well in school and had to repeat a grade.
At the age of 14 Phillip began to get involved in petty crime. Breaking and entering, car theft. The types of crime began to be wore serious in nature. Phillip began to:
1. Complete the story telling what happened to the boys.
