Call for Volunteers to Assist with the WDNY 125th Anniversary Education Outreach Effort
The United States District Court for the Western District of New York is celebrating its 125th anniversary in 2025. To commemorate this milestone, among other events, the Court is planning an educational outreach program to engage high school students and foster a greater understanding of the role of the judiciary and the rich history of the Court.
To give students an understanding of the role of the judiciary, we plan to have attorney volunteers enter classrooms to teach the attached curriculum, which is centered around the Supreme Court’s 1943 landmark decision in West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette that addressed the constitutionality of compulsory flag salutes in schools. While a class discussion of Barnette alone could consume a week, in crafting the program the committee was mindful of the time-constraints faced by practicing attorneys and schools. Therefore, the classroom curriculum is crafted to be taught in one class period (approximately 45 minutes).
The curriculum will be taught to 12th grade social studies classes in early 2025. No research is expected of our volunteers. We will supply you with all of the information necessary to have a fulfilling experience with your classroom.
Attorney volunteers are needed to ensure that all participating schools can benefit from this valuable program. Therefore, please click here to register.
Please do not hesitate to contact Paul Leclair, Chairperson of the Court’s 125th Anniversary Educational Outreach Subcommittee ((585) 327-4104; wdnycivicsoutreach@adamsleclair.law) with any questions.
Attachments: