“Often the path to freedom will carry you through prison.”
—Martin Luther King Jr. (1960)
“Time is running out for the merchants of crime and corruption in American society.”
—Richard Nixon (1968)
“Too many Americans go to too many prisons for far too long, and for no truly good law enforcement reason.”
— Eric Holder (2013)
These three quotations outline a tidal wave of institutional and social changes that reshaped political discourse about civil liberties and civil rights in the United States. This advanced unit will guide students on a journey to examine the foundational criminal procedure amendments of the Constitution and how the civil rights and liberties protected in them have been interpreted over time. Students will have an opportunity to engage in case analysis, evaluation, and discourse around the legal precedents set forth from these significant moments in history. This unit is designated advanced due to its engaging yet rigorous content, precursory knowledge, and alignment to advanced high school courses.
Through viewpoint diverse resources, Sphere Education Initiatives seeks to bring conversations to the classroom and equip students to engage in civil discourse. In this important and historically relevant unit, students will engage in conversations on challenging and sensitive topics. In particular, students will think critically about the interpretation of civil liberties and civil rights protections afforded by the Constitution over time. It is within these conversations, students with the support of their educators will be able to hone healthy habits of conversation to discuss one of the most pressing viewpoint issues in the United States. Educators may utilize a range of Sphere’s resources including our Principles of Civil Discourse Primer to support their work in fostering civil discourse in their classroom.