The future is in our hands.

• Author: Blumberg, Edward R.
• Position: Florida - President's Page

Visions of my schoolday youth came flooding back. As I stood before the eager-to-learn faces, I could see myself as them, albeit 30 years ago. It was clear by their thoughtful questions that the students appreciated the lesson on our system of justice. At the conclusion of the class, these young people pronounced a better understanding, appreciation, and respect for the workings of the courts and those that labor therein.

Not long ago, we came upon a court-sponsored survey which revealed that 51 percent of the adult population in Florida could not name all three branches of government, and had a minimal understanding of how justice is administered in Florida. The underpinnings of our democracy are rooted in the notion of a populace aware of civic responsibilities. It is axiomatic that people often fear and then can dislike what they do not understand. A knowledgeable person makes for the better citizen and one with respect for the institutions bestowed upon us by the Framers of the Constitution. The challenge is what can be done in a positive way to enhance civic understanding.

Every good lawyer knows that all the technology in the world pales next to the Constitution and the Republic from which it flows. It is only proper and fitting that lawyers shall lead the way. Lawyers are blessed with four years of college and three years of law school. As officers of the court, it is thus our duty to give back to the school children of this state some of the knowledge of government and the principles of the Constitution that we obtained.

With this desire to contribute constructively to the future of our youth and to the great State of Florida, we began a dialogue with the Florida Commissioner of Education, Frank Brogan. Commissioner Brogan is energetic and enthusiastic in his goal to improve the quality of education in the public schools of Florida. He too recognizes the benefits of a sound curriculum in what used to be called "Civics." Our meeting became a meeting of the minds. We are now proud to announce that a partnership has been forged between The Florida Bar and the Department of Education of Florida for the purpose of teaching the students in the 831 public middle and high schools about the administration of justice and the workings of our judicial and legal system. Commissioner Brogan and I initiated this joint venture on November 12, at Rickards High School in Tallahassee. While the clear beneficiaries of this collaborative effort are the...