About | HeinOnline Law Journal Library | HeinOnline Law Journal Library | HeinOnline
LOG IN
LOG IN

52 J.L. & Educ. 1 (2023)

handle is hein.journals/jle52 and id is 1 raw text is: Learning Law Young: Towards a More Robust, Impactful Civics Education Modeled Off of Jewish Law Learning Michael J. Broyde* and Ariel J. Liberman* ABSTRACT Civics education curricula across the United States place too heavy an emphasis on teaching students descriptive information on our government rather than skills to participate within the government system. Even when a more practical-oriented approach to civics is being taken, the efforts made place a great focus on community involvement but little effort on skills-training (concerning, for example, argument, governmental criticism, and policy innovation). These realities lead to complacency and do little to inspire students to effectuate change. This Article argues for a more robust civics education that focuses on learning law young, or, rather, empowering students with the tools of critical thinking, understanding of systemic relationships, ability to question, and reform-mindedness that are important to tackle larger issues. To learn law young means endowing students with a methodological approach to questioning rights, duties, and obligations, as well as a common language for doing so. The Jewish educational tradition is instructive as a model for this sort of learning-from the Jewish Law obligation to educate, the skills that a yeshiva's law learning model cultivates, and the positive consequences of this education on active community participation. If the objective of civics education is to cultivate the good active citizen, then this tool-not learning substantive law itself, but an ability to approach law questions-is essential. * Professor of Law at Emory University and the Berman Project Director of its Center for the Study of Law and Religion. He was for many years a member of the Beth Din of America and has served in various rabbinic roles from synagogue rabbi to Rosh Kollel. * S.J.D. Candidate, Center for the Study of Law and Religion, Emory University School of Law, where his research focuses on education law and policy, law and community, the intersection between law and religion, and comparative law topics. He is also Lecturer at Oglethorpe University in Atlanta, Georgia. 1

What Is HeinOnline?

HeinOnline is a subscription-based resource containing thousands of academic and legal journals from inception; complete coverage of government documents such as U.S. Statutes at Large, U.S. Code, Federal Register, Code of Federal Regulations, U.S. Reports, and much more. Documents are image-based, fully searchable PDFs with the authority of print combined with the accessibility of a user-friendly and powerful database. For more information, request a quote or trial for your organization below.



Short-term subscription options include 24 hours, 48 hours, or 1 week to HeinOnline.

Purchase Access

Contact us for annual subscription options:

Contact Us

Already a HeinOnline Subscriber?

Log In

profiles profiles most