Teaching our teachers: the Justice Teaching Institute.

• Author: Pitts, Annette Boyd
• Position: Florida

Teaching about the courts, and particularly the appellate process, can be a challenging task for many teachers. Hundreds of thousands of Florida students are immersed in the study of civics, government, and law throughout the state, creating a need for quality professional development. Training is needed to equip teachers with the knowledge and strategies to teach effectively about the judicial branch, the role of the courts in our constitutional structure, and the judicial decision-making process.

The Florida Supreme Court has played a major role in preparing teachers for this important instructional area. Since 1996-97, the Supreme Court has hosted a statewide institute for middle and high-school teachers to experience the state courts. Housed annually at the Florida Supreme Court and taught by all seven justices, the Justice Teaching Institute utilizes a case study approach to teach about the court system. The institute immerses teachers in a hands-on examination of the administration of justice while providing a human dimension to the process. "This is best professional learning experience I have participated in since I began teaching 20 years ago," stated a high school teacher participant. "To be taught about the courts from all seven Supreme Court justices demonstrates the magnitude of their commitment to civic education."

Teachers begin the institute with an opening mock oral argument addressing search and seizure. Through this 60-minute exercise, teachers learn how to teach about the appellate process, the role of precedent in judicial decisionmaking, and the structure and function of the courts through an engaging simulation. FLREA assisted the Florida Supreme Court in designing and implementing the first institute in 1997 and continues to administer the program today. Serving as justices and attorneys in the introductory mock oral argument activity, teachers learn both process and content. They learn how appellate courts differ from trial courts. They explore constitutional applications to real-life scenarios and practice interactive teaching strategies that are easily transferable from the courtroom to the classroom.

Throughout the week, teachers receive substantive training in constitutional law, practice law-focused strategies to utilize in the classroom, observe motion to suppress hearings, interact with trial and appellate judges, explore judicial selection processes in Florida, and examine the structure and function of the...