Debate-Brown vs. Board of Education Topeka, Kansas

Debate

Brown V. Board of Education Topeka, Kansas

Grades 8, Civics and Government

B. Civics and Government: Students draw on concepts from civics and government to understand political systems, power, authority, governance, civic ideals and practices, and the role of citizens in the community, Maine, the United States, and world.

1. Analyze examples of democratic ideals and constitutional principles that include the rule of law, legitimate power, and common good.

B2 Rights, Duties, Responsibilities, and Citizen Participation in Government

Students understand constitutional and legal rights, civic duties and responsibilities, and roles of citizens in a constitutional democracy.

 c. Analyze examples of the protection of rights in court cases or from current events.

Essential Questions: How did the historic court case of Brown vs. Board of Education spark the Civil Rights movement and create equality?

Learning Outcomes: 

The student will demonstrate an understanding of the importance of the Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka case in the context of the classroom debate (modified Lincoln-Douglas Debate format). Students will demonstrate understanding of the importance of the case in the process of the United States Civil Rights movement.

Differentiation: 

The activity allows for all students to participate at varying comfort levels.  Cooperative learning in all stages of the lesson allow for students to reference integrate historic events with their own opinions.  Students will be accountable to their own personal level of  ability.

Assessment- See Attached Rubric

Materials-Laptop, Notebook, writing utensil.

Supreme Court Justices-

The Court before the resignation of Earl Warren Front: John Marshall Harlan, Hugo L. Black, Earl Warren, William O. Douglas, William J. Brennan, Jr. Second row: Abe Fortas, Potter Stewert, Byron R.

Research Resources-

Plessy vs. Ferguson

Segregation Ruled Illegal

10 Things You Should Know about Brown vs. Board of Education

5 Myths about Brown v. Board of Education

Clarifying Arguments BOTH side of the Argument

Activities-

DIRECTIONS

1. Think about the following questions and discuss or write your answers:

• 1. Does treating people equally mean treating them the same?

  2. What would it mean to treat people equally in the following situations?

     1. 1. A man and a woman apply for a job as a shoe sales person. What would the employer have to do to treat these two applicants equally?

        2. Two patients come to a doctor with a headache. The doctor determines that one patient has a brain tumor and the other patient has a run-of-the mill headache. What would the doctor have to do to treat these two patients equally?

        3. Two students try to enter a school that has stairs leading to the entrance. One student is handicapped and the other is not. What would the school have to do to treat these two students equally?

        4. Two students live in the same school district. The students are the same age, but they are different races. What does the school district have to do to treat these two students equally.

Discrimination occurs when some people are treated differently than others because of their membership in a group, based on, for example, race, age, gender, or religion.  When courts consider cases of discrimination, they look at the equal protection clause of the Fourteenth Amendment to determine whether that alleged discrimination is reasonable and legal or whether it violates the Constitution. 

2. Please Read the Following and write a 5 sentence paragraph response.

Where are We Now?

Based on the Lincoln-Douglas Debate Structure (Modified)