This manual prepares volunteer attorneys and law students to lead small-group classroom sessions on constitutional rights, responsibilities, and realities for high school students.
This document is the 3Rs Program Instructor's Manual from the Grand Rapids Bar Association. It guides volunteer attorneys and law students who teach civics to high school students at Ottawa Hills High School in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The program partners with the Justice Foundation of West Michigan and Grand Rapids Public Schools.
The manual opens with an overview of the program's goals. These include improving understanding of the rule of law, increasing interest in civic issues, providing practical career counseling, and improving the pipeline of students of color into legal careers. It explains the program structure of monthly visits over eight months, with each volunteer working with a small group of five to six students.
The user's manual section explains how to prepare for classroom visits. It describes the lesson materials organization, including lesson tabs and supplemental materials with a copy of the U.S. Constitution. It emphasizes the importance of small group discussion and face-to-face interaction, while allowing instructors flexibility in presentation style.
Lesson 1 introduces the program to students. It includes a script for the team leader to introduce the volunteer team, a discussion of constitutional rights under the First and Fourth Amendments, and guidance on establishing respect within the group. The lesson includes sample questions for getting to know students' interests and career aspirations.
The manual stresses that constitutional rights are not absolute and must be balanced against the rights of others and the common good. It explains that federal judges define the limits of individual rights by interpreting the Constitution. The document encourages volunteers to research current events that illustrate the lessons and to engage students in real-world applications of the law.