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Public Education

The Supreme Court in My Hometown

"The Supreme Court in My Hometown" is an enrichment program for high school students, presented by the Supreme Court Historical Society.  Locally hosted by the Eighth Circuit U.S. Court of appeals, the U.S. District Court Eastern Missouri, the Judicial Learning Center in St. Louis, and the Federal Bar Association's St. Louis Chapter. 

Interested high school students who will be in grades 10-12 next year are encouraged to apply for this unique opportunity to delve into the inner workings of the federal judiciary and the Supreme Court of the United States, through the lens of a landmark case originating in the St. Louis area: Hazelwood School District v. Kuhlmeier (1988).

Dates and additional details are available on the application page, which is found on the website of the Supreme Court Historical Society.

 

Bill of Rights Day 2022

December 15 is Bill of Rights Day, celebrating the day that the Constitution's first 10 Amendments were ratified in 1791.  Courts around the country celebrate this important milestone throughout the month of December.

STUDENT CONTEST: To commemmorate this important anniversary, federal courts in ten states invited students to submit art and essays about the importance of the Bill of Rights. The third annual student contest was open to students in grades 5-12.  500 students participated.  To see the list of winning students and their entries, visit the official contest website, hosted by the Judicial Learning Center.

 

Constitution Day 2022

September 17 marks the anniversary of the ratification of the U.S. Constitution and is designated as Constitution Day by the United States government. By Congressional mandate, “Each educational institution that receives federal funds for a fiscal year shall hold an educational program on the United States Constitution on September 17 of such year for the students served by the educational institution.”

Ideas for meeting this requirement:

  • Use a new activity and video from the U.S. Courts to consider and practice civil discourse skills.

  • Learn about the U.S. Constitution and complete a 6-question quiz on the Judicial Learning Center’s website.

  • Use the text of the U.S. Constitution to lead a lesson on the qualifications of office for leaders of each of the three branches of government.

  • Ponder the Promises of the Preamble using videos produced by the U.S. Courts.

 

Law Day 2022This armband was worn by 13-year-old Mary Beth Tinker in 1965 to protest the Vietnam War, resulting in her suspension from school. It is pinned into a notebook she used for a school report. On loan from the personal collection of Mary Beth Tinker.

In 1961, Congress passed a joint resolution designating May 1 as the national day set aside to celebrate the rule of law.  Law Day underscores how law and the legal process contribute to the freedoms that all Americans share.

The Judicial Learning Center in the Thomas F. Eagleton U.S. Courthouse is proud to display Mary Beth Tinker’s original black armband from 1965, on loan from her personal collection. The armband is surrounded by an educational exhibit explaining the historical context of the time, the story of the students’ action, and the resulting landmark U.S. Supreme Court case.

To celebrate Law Day 2022, the U.S. Courts and the Judicial Learning Center have launched an online exhibit about the landmark case Tinker v. Des Moines. Hosted on the learning center's website, the online exhibit mirrors what can be seen in person at the courthouse.

 

 

     

    2020 - Nineteenth Amendment Centennial

     The year 2020 marked the 100th anniversary of the constitutional amendment securing the right to vote for women. The following resources have been collected for teachers, students, and the public.

    The Suffrage Project by artist Mary Kline-Misol

    For information on the original works, see the websites of GalleryMKM and Artisan Gallery 218 in Des Moines, Iowa.        

    This collection of 19 portraits highlights women who worked to secure the right to vote for all. The artist has generously allowed her work to be used here for the following educational activities. For information on the original works, see the websites of GalleryMKM and Artisan Gallery 218 in Des Moines, Iowa.

    • Activity Suggestions:
    • Download a set of 19 printable bookmarks below.
    • Create your own bookmark using this template. Your bookmark might feature a famous suffragist from your home state, someone you admire as a modern-day hero, or yourself and what you can do to support voting rights for all.
    • Research one of the featured suffragists and create a short presentation or video.
    • Use the portraits to complete these lessons from the National Portrait Gallery or EDSITEment from NEH.
    Printable Bookmarks
    Alice Paul Frances Watkins Harper Mabel Vernon
    Anne Henrietta Martin Gertrude Bustill Mossell Mary Ann Shadd Cary
    Carrie Chapman Catt Ida B. Wells Mary Church Terrell
    Charlotte Forten Grimké Josephine St. Pierre Ruffin Nannie Helen Burroughs
    Edna M. Griffin Lucretia Mott Sojourner Truth
    Elizabeth Cady Stanton Lucy Burns Susan B. Anthony
    Emmeline Pankhurst blank bookmark blank bookmark plain

     

    Mock Trial: The Trial of Susan B. Anthony

    Susan B. Anthony was arrested for registering and voting in the 1872 presidential election.  Below you will find everything you need to recreate this famous trial with your class.  The script is not the exact trial transcipt; it is adapted to take about 20 minutes, plus 5-10 minutes for jury deliberation.  It is appropriate for grades 6 and up.  Exhibits for both sides are provided, as are discussion questions.  Virtual backgrounds are provided for online classes.

     

    Reading and Discussion Activities

     

    Video Activity: From Suffragist Sashes to Antiwar Armbands

    In this video produced by the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, an unlikely connection is made between two rights activists from different eras. Suffragist Virginia Minor and Vietnam war protester Mary Beth Tinker were separated by 100 years, but their passions came together in the legal history of St. Louis, where they worked through the courts to seek social change. Both lost their appeals in St. Louis but went on to the Supreme Court of the United States. 

     

    Additional Resources

    • Women's Suffrage timeline from the American Bar Association
    • Nineteenth Amendment teaching resources, from the Civics Renewal Network
    • The 19th Amendment: A Woman's Right to Vote video and lesson plan, from Annenberg Classroom
    • Women's Suffrage in the United States lesson module, from the Center for American Women and Politics, Rutgers University
    • 19 for the 19th Challenge, from the Girl Scouts of San Diego and the American Bar Association
    • Rightfully Hers online exhibits from the National Archives

     

    Courthouse Tours.  To schedule a customized courthouse tour of the Eagleton Courthouse in St. Louis, click here to submit a tour request email.

    Judicial Learning Center.  The highlight of every visit to the Thomas F. Eagleton Courthouse is the Judicial Learning Center. Visit the Learning Center's website to learn more about the federal courts, even if you can’t schedule a tour at this time.

    For Teachers.  For lesson plans, pre/post visit suggestions, or further information, contact our Public Education and Community Outreach Administrator  –  Rachel_Marshall@ca8.uscourts.gov or (314) 244-2410

    For Scouts.  For help meeting badge requirements, contact our Public Education and Community Outreach Administrator - Rachel_Marshall@ca8.uscourts.gov or (314) 244-2410.  More information can be found here.

    Judicial Speakers Bureau.  To schedule a speaker for your organization, or for more information, click here.

    Education and Outreach Newsletter.  To sign up to receive the email newsletter, click here.