Teaching About Basic Legal Concepts in the Senior High School. Rationale for the Teacher.

The rationale for a program intended to suggest ways in which respect for the rule of law may be developed, and a suggested series of modules to provide guidance and illustrative materials for developing legal concepts and understandings in an 11th grade American history course are presented. The format suggests several alternate uses, including the basis for a minicourse as well as a one-or two-semester course. An overview outlines the understandings designed to be developed in five modules, entitled The System: Who Needs It; Legal Techniques at Work; Law and Change; Keeping the Officials in Line; and The Limits of Law. A section on how to use the teaching program offers a purpose and description of the entire program and each of the modules. Background information about the legal system describes kinds of laws, official tasks, legal proceedings, and the court system. In a section on the collection of resource materials for classroom use the location and adaptation of cases and statutes, printed materials, and human resources is related. A bibliography and media listing conclude the rationale. Some of the background information is specifically related to the New York State legal system. (Author/KSM)