The Nebraska State Bar Foundation hosted 20 middle and high school teachers Nov. 3 in a professional development session on teaching civics and the U.S. Constitution. The program is offered under the Foundation's We the People program through funding from the James Madison Legacy Project grant from the Center for Civic Education.
Two scholars made presentations: "Party Smarty: Ideology, Political Parties and Teaching Government and Politics in an Age of Polarization" by Dr. Kevin Smith, Chair of the UNL Department of Political Science, and "American Exceptionalism and the Survival of the Constitution" by Dr. Thomas Berg of the UNL Department of History. Additionally, pedagogy was provided by Lori Broady of ESU 4 and Dr. Dave Nebel, a teacher at Lincoln Southeast High School.
"I love the Constitution and am always looking for opportunities to better teach it to my students, can't wait to implement these ideas," said one of the teacher participants. The event took place at The Foundry in downtown Lincoln.
For more information, contact Pam Carrier at pam [at] nebarfnd.org or call 402.430.5117