Site Provides High School Death Penalty Curriculum
The Death Penalty Information Center, in conjunction with the Michigan State University Comm Tech Lab, has prepared Internet-based curriculum on capital punishment so that educators can bring this timely topic into the classroom. The tool uses capital punishment to teach students critical thinking skills, group decision making, persuasive writing and civic responsibility.
Using exercises such as role-playing, written reports, quick-writes, learning journals and simulations, the curriculum engages students’ interests and allows them to thoughtfully consider the central issues concerning the death penalty. The curriculum also offers separate teacher (http://teacher.deathpenaltyinfo.msu.edu) and student (http://deathpenaltyinfo.msu.edu) Web sites, two 10-day lesson plans, teacher overviews and objectives that meet national standards. In addition, the curriculum available online has been used by the American Bar Association’s Division for Public Education as a resource for teachers and students. It has also been used as a Capital Punishment Education Program by teachers in Washington, D.C.
Stephen R. Greenwald, president of Audrey Cohen College, said in a news release: “It’s a wonderful resource for teachers and students, and is especially useful in helping young people examine their own beliefs and begin to form an opinion on this issue.” Death Penalty Information Center, Washington, D.C., (202) 293-6970, www.deathpenaltyinfo.org.
This article originally appeared in the 11/01/2002 issue of THE Journal.