Law Education Syllabus

Eastside High School

Coach Maholtz | Room 135 | Room Phone-864-355-2870

Email-dmaholtz@greenville.k12.sc.us

Course Description

Welcome to Law Education! This is an elective course that involves a study of different types of law, their development, and their role in a democratic society. The course focuses on the interpretation of cases and law enforcement procedures. This course will provide a high school student with historical and contemporary contexts of law and laws in the global world.

Student Textbook:

There will be a digital copy available online as well: McGraw-Hill and Inc., Street Law: A Course in Practical Law. 8th ed.,Student Edition ,Street Law, Inc. Street Law

Course Requirements:

1. Attendance: As a result of block scheduling, you are only permitted five absences per semester in each class.  Any unexcused absences after the fifth absence will result in the student needing to complete seat time recovery in order to not fail the class due to attendance.

2. Make-Up Work: All make up assignments (classwork, homework, quizzes, tests, etc.) are due within FIVE (5) class days of your return to school.  Any work, including tests and quizzes, not completed and/or turned in within the five-day period will be assigned a grade of zero.  In accordance with our school-wide late work policy, ten points will be taken off the late work for every day the work is late.  For any missed assessment, it is the responsibility of the student to coordinate a time to make up the missed assessment with the teacher within the five days of returning back to school. 

   • Field Trips and “Principal Approval” absences are not a part of the five days to make up work.

   • Please inform Mrs. Santos if you already know you will be absent, and arrangements will be made to provide work that will be missed.

3. Materials Needed:

1. Pen or pencil

2. Chromebook (and charger)

3. Paper

4. Notebook

5. Highlighters 

4. Class Rules: 

1. Students will be on time. 

   1. Be seated in your assigned seats when the tardy bell rings. Go to the restroom, the water fountain and/ or your locker BEFORE you get to this class. If you are late to class, you must obtain a tardy pass from the front office.

2. Students will be prepared.  This means you will have the required class materials in class every day.

3. Be respectful at all times.  Please raise your hand before speaking, and do not talk while someone else is talking.

4. Electronic devices ONLY ALLOWED when indicated by the teacher.

   1. Chromebooks will need to be charged and ready to use for classroom assignments/activities.

5. There will be no music listening devices permitted during lectures and assessments.  If the class is working on an independent assignment, students may listen to music at an appropriate volume.

   1. The ultimate consequences for electronics being out when not permitted will result in an administrative referral to the appropriate administrator for a “failure to obey.”

   2. I do not have the time or patience to verbally remind you/reprimand you for every occurrence.  If you have any electronic devices visible during non permitted times, you can be assured that I will follow the consequences as outlined below.

6. Cheating and Copying (all parties involved) = Zero.  No questions.  

7. Do not work on any other subjects during this class unless instructed otherwise.

8. Procedures for leaving the classroom:

   1. Students are not permitted to leave the room during assessments.  Students will need to handle any business outside of the classroom before taking the test/quiz or after turning in the test/quiz.

      1. Additionally, students may not leave the room during direct instruction.

   2. For the first 15 and last 15 of each class, restrooms are off limits.

   3. Students will be unable to leave the room unless it can be shown that work has been completed to a satisfactory level.

5. Consequences:

1. Verbal Warning

2. Parent Contact

3. Before/After School Detention

4. Referral

Grading Procedures:

1) Minor Assessments (Classwork, homework, quizzes) = 40%

• Quizzes

  • Content quizzes (announced and unannounced) and vocabulary quizzes

    • Quizzes are counted twice in the gradebook.

• Classwork-Work started on in class

• Homework-Work completely done at home

2) Major Assessments (Tests & Projects) = 60%

3) Final Exam (to be taken in Late May/Early June)– 10% of the student’s F1 grade

Tentative Course Schedule

1. 
   Introduction to Law, the Legal System, and the Constitution 

Unit Essential Question:

How are the rights guaranteed to Americans by the Constitution and the values of our country reflected in the United States legal system?

Understanding

• The relationship between values, morality, and the law

• How laws are made and the general structure of the U.S. legal system

• The Amendments in the Bill of Rights in the Constitution and challenges to them

• How the Constitution gave the blueprints for how laws are made in the U.S.

2. 
   Introduction to the Criminal Justice Unit 

Unit Essential Question:

Why does the government have specific processes to follow when investigating and prosecuting crime?

Understanding

• Elements and classifications of crimes

• Difference in laws on the state and federal level

• The process of crime scene investigation and how it is used to help solve crime

• The jury and trial process of the U.S. criminal justice system

3. 
   Introduction to Family Law 

Unit Essential Question:

How does the government protect families in the United States?

Understanding

• The definition of family in the eyes of the law and how the American family has changed over time.

• The legal aspects of marriage

• The legal responsibilities between parents and children

• The laws and issues surrounding foster care and adoption

• The laws that dictate separation, divorce, and custody

• How the government provides support for families and individuals

4. 
   Introduction to Civil Law 

Unit Essential Question:

How does the government provide the means for individuals to get help if they have been injured or their property damaged as a result of someone else’s negligence?

Understanding

• The definition of torts and how they relate to civil law

• The importance of insurance and how it relates to civil law

• The difference between intentional wrong, negligence, and strict liability

• The relationship between negligence, damages, and causation

• The relationship between strict liability, damaged products, and dangerous activities 

• The legal process an individual has to go through in order to seek damages

5. 
   Housing and Consumer Law 

Unit Essential Question:

How does the government help individuals in regards to consumer protection and housing?

Understanding

• The difference between contracts (written and oral) and warranties

• The importance of credit and how it impacts a consumer’s livelihood

• The importance of being smart consumer

• The relationship between the federal government and consumers

• The aspects of purchasing a new or used car

• The relationship between landlord and tenant in regards to renting a house/apartment 

Exam Review-Board Game Project AND Study Guide

Final Exam (to be taken in May

Grading Scale 

Standard 10 point grading scale 

100-90 A

89-80   B

79-70   C

69-60   D

59-0     F

Video Viewing List:

• Crash Course Video series ( Constitution segments)

Parent or Guardian Signature Page for Class Expectations

I have read and understand the class expectations for Coach Maholtz's class. 

The easiest and most effective communication tool for me is email.  Therefore, I will most likely contact you via my school email address.  If possible, please make sure to include your email address (parent/guardian) below).

Student’s Name: _________________________________________

    (Please print)

Parent(s) or Guardian(s) Name: __________________________________________________

              (Please print)

Parent’s/Guardian’s Signature: ________________________________________

Date: __________

Work Phone: __________________ Home/Cell Phone: __________________

Email: _______________________________________________________________________

_______ I have read and understood the course syllabus.

Course Videos/Clips:

Video clips will be shown often during the course to reinforce learning. The majority of these clips are from Discovery Education, BBC, PBS, TED Talks, National Geographic, and other reputable educational sites. A full length movie or documentary may also be shown for each unit (if time permits) with an accompanying viewing guide. The movies are rated PG or PG-13.  Additionally, planned television episodes (TV-14) may be watched, such as Law and Order: SVU.  If needed, I will send out an additional approval page in order to receive official permission for your student to watch a PG/PG-13 movie and/or a TV-14 episode while taking this course.

_______ I grant permission for my child to watch approved videos in this course.

Student’s Signature Page

I have read the expectations and consequences for Coach Maholtz's class. It is my responsibility to adhere to these expectations or face the consequences of my actions. It is also my responsibility to complete all work for this class in a timely manner and to accept the consequences should I choose not to complete the assigned work.

Student Name (printed): __________________________________________

Student Signature: __________________________________________