Education for citizenship in a constitutional democracy is the main purpose of LRE in elementary and secondary schools. Given the fundamental place of law in American society, every citizen needs to know how the legal and political systems function, how the law affects them, and how they can affect it. LRE is the practical application of law to daily living; it is not specialized legal education. It is intended to develop an understanding of the values and principles on which the legal system is based.

In 1978, major leaders in LRE described for a federal government report what law-related education means: "those organized learning experiences that provide students . . . the knowledge and understanding, skills, attitudes, and appreciations necessary to respond
effectively to the law and legal issues in our complex and changing society." Law-related education is a unique blending of substance and strategy; students learn substantive information about laws, the legal system, and their rights and responsibilities through strategies that promote cooperative learning, critical thinking, and positive interaction between young people and adults.

To help youth lead safe, healthy lives, LRE takes a leading role in the war against juvenile crime and violence. It furnishes creative and positive outlets for young people to serve their communities and helps them learn how to manage conflict in socially acceptable ways. LRE also develops partnerships with other successful community- and school-based violence prevention programs. And, LRE helps kids develop hope for the future.

Why should law-related education be included in the curriculum?

Reasons for including LRE in the curriculum include

(1) the development of knowledge,

Attaining knowledge of law-related concepts and facts is necessary for an understanding of our history, government, and economics. Sources of law, functions of law, legal processes, legal roles, and legal principles (e.g., justice, equality, authority, freedom, order, etc.) are essential elements of the social studies curriculum. Thus, LRE is a necessary component of a sound social studies curriculum. LRE increases student's knowledge of government, the judicial system, and the rights and responsibilities of citizenship in a constitutional democracy. LRE enables students to apply their understanding of the legal system to practical situations they encounter in their daily lives.

(2)the development of critical thinking and participation skills needed for citizenship,

Development of critical thinking and participation skills. Law-related education contributes to the acquisition of critical thinking skills. These are skills which demand the careful analysis of statements and positions; they are questioning strategies that must be developed in order to participate responsibly and effectively in our democratic system of government. LRE helps students develop an objective, constructive, and questioning attitude toward the information they receive regarding public and private issues. There also is evidence that LRE contributes to the development of skills in civic participation and decision making. Because students actively participate in law-related instruction, they learn to examine issues, communicate ideas clearly and succinctly, conduct discussions, and value the viewpoints of others. They learn to make individual and group decisions and to evaluate those decisions in the light of other important social and political values
and interests.

(3) the development of positive attitudes, and

Development of positive attitudes. Positive attitudes about the law, our system of justice,and responsible citizenship may be enhanced through LRE programs. The content of LRE programs is directly related to the lives of students. The variety of interactive methods of instruction (e.g., small group work, mock trials, simulations, case studies) involve students positively in the learning process. Law-related educators frequently report that students seem to "value LRE classes as relevant, useful, and interesting; that the classroom interaction is rewarding--offering students who had difficulties mastering the subject matter of other courses opportunities to participate successfully." Heightened interest and positive attitudes of students in LRE programs may transfer to other courses.

(4) the prevention of delinquency.

Prevention of delinquency. A study conducted by the Social Science Education Consortium and the Center for Action Research indicated that LRE programs, when properly conducted, can reduce tendencies toward delinquent behavior and improve a range of attitudes related to responsible citizenship.2 The research indicated that successful students in LRE programs are less likely to associate with delinquent peers, use violence as a means of resolving conflict, and refrain from reporting criminal behavior to
authorities.

from the Youth for Justice LRE Awareness Manual, Constitutional Rights Foundation-Chicago, July 1993

What is Youth for Justice?

"Youth for Justice" is the name of a consortium of five national civic education organizations: the ABA's Public Education Division, StreetLaw, the Center for Civic Education, the Constitutional Rights Foundation (with offices in Chicago and Los Angeles), and Phi Alpha Delta. Together these organizations work with the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquincy Prevention (OJJDP, or the "JJ") of the United States Department of Justice to promote law related education programs in primary and secondary schools across America.