Mr. Cassady
School Year 2011-2012
8th grade Youth and Law
Room 219
School phone: 818/678-4102
Email: bdc1539@lausd.net
Website: http://teacherweb.com/CA/OliverWendellHolmes/Cassady/List0.stm
My name is Mr. Cassady and I will be your law teacher for this school year. This will be my 13th year of teaching: all at Holmes Middle School. Along with my fellow Generals teachers, I look forward to helping you grow as a person and scholar so that one year from now you will be prepared for high school.
"Educate and inform the whole mass of the people. Enable them to see that it is their interest to preserve peace and order, and they will preserve them…They are the only sure reliance for the preservation of our liberty."
Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 1787.
Overview and Objective:
Law-related education empowers young people by providing practical information about law and the legal system.
Course Goals/Objectives:
· Policy and procedures of state and local law enforcement
· Legal literacy focusing on civil, criminal, and constitutional themes
· Practical legal information
· Concepts underlying our constitutional democracy
· Critical thinking
· Decision-making
· Problem solving
Course Outline:
Unit 1: Introduction to Law Unit 2: Criminal Law Unit 3: Consumer Law
Unit 4: Family Law Unit 5: Rights in the Community Unit 6: Individual Rights and Liberties
Materials Needed:
Ø Interactive notebook: A 10 ½ x 8 spiral bound notebook with at least 240 pages. Everything goes into it. Please keep them neat and organized.
Ø PLANNER: Each teacher has different requirements for filling it in. Stay organized and assignments, quizzes and tests will always be manageable.
Ø Supplies 3x5 note cards/black or blue pens/pencils/colored pencils/glue sticks/highlighters
Assessments
We will use a variety of assessments. Tests: Projects: Quizzes (you’ll never know when): Homework: Participation:.
Grading:
Students must earn their grades & Grades are cumulative over 20 weeks and are based on earned points divided by total points.
A: 90-100% Excellent Achievement
B: 80-89% Good Achievement
C: 70-79% Satisfactory Achievement
D: 60-69% Minimum Achievement
F: Below 59% Failure
Attendance
§ Any missed work goes down as a zero (0) until made up. It is the student’s responsibility to make up any missed work or to receive class material. An excused absence has extra time equal to time absent. An unexcused absence must see me. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions or concerns.
Late Work
3+ Missing assignments in a 5 week grading period = “U” in Work Habits
Classroom Management
I expect that students enter my classroom like ladies and gentlemen and with some maturity. In return I will treat all students with respect.
þ Be in your seat, prepared with necessary books and supplies, before the tardy bell rings. You are responsible to have materials in class everyday!
þ You are TARDY if you are not in your assigned seat when the bell starts to ring! Three tardies will result in a “U” in work habits.
þ Raise your hand for permission to leave your seat and/or to speak. DO NOT SHOUT OUT!
þ NO food/gum in class [automatic “U” in cooperation]. Water bottles are fine.
þ Electronic devices MUST BE OFF AND IN BACKPACKS during class [I will confiscate them] and school time.
Cheating/plagiarism Quite simply…ANY form of cheating will not be tolerated.
Plagiarism is the copying of another person’s work with or without their permission. Plagiarism is a form of theft and is highly punishable. Do not copy anyone else’s work! This includes information taken from the Internet, books, and other resources without properly identifying the source. This also includes cheating on tests in class. Students participating in plagiarism by copying another’s work or allowing someone to copy their work will receive zero credit for the assignment or test and a “U” in Work Habits on their next report card.