Students study the Bill of Rights as the Constitutional Basis for the concept and practice of Individual Rights in America. For the past dew years we have involved students in debating two of the main Amendments of the Constitution: Part of the 1st: Freedom of Expression, and part of the 8th: the Death Penalty.
Our Blackboard course contains the main readings and files that students will need to read and study in order to prepare for the Debate.
Following are further resources that should be very helpful in more deeply understanding the topic of “rights” in general and also the Bill of Rights, and the two topics we study in particular:
NPR Transcript of interview on Free Speech
This interview relates the case in Britain of Muslim cleric Abu Hamza al-Masri, and his conviction in 2006 for enticing Muslims to commit violence in England and how the same case might have been dealt with in the United States were a Muslim cleric there done the same.
Death Penalty Topic
In the Bill of Rights Debate one of the issues we examine is the death penalty. Students argue for both, the pro and con sides of this hot political topic by deeply examining many of the connected issues that play a part in the debate. Bellow, students and parents alike can encounter many links that will hopefully be very helpful in getting a better understanding of this complex and most current issue of importance in the American debate of our civil rights and responsibilities.
| I. ASIJ Library Links Death Penalty ASIJ Library Links to Cruel/Unusual Punishment
III. List of Death Penalty Supreme Court Cases IV. List of Death Penalty Supreme Court Cases with Links to descriptions of these cases
V. Overview of the Death Penalty Issue: A Comprehensive Site for Anti-Death Penalty Advocates |
| Anti Death Penalty Sites: 1. The American Civil Liberties Union: Excellent site for those interested in why the death penalty is wrong 2. The Death Penalty is Discriminatory |
| Pro Death Penalty Sites: This site has pro-death penalty research on the following arguments. After linking, scroll down for bookmarks. 1. Deterrence
2. Costs 3. Innocence At this site, scroll down and look for “the morality of capital punishment” section for information on that argument. 5. Retribution |
During our Bill of Rights Debate students debate the issue of Freedom of Expression by deeply looking at many of the related issues that affect this most important Civil Right in the United States. The following resources are meant to help students and parents alike find valuable information to assist in learning more deeply about the topic and in preparing for this very important debate. As always, if anyone comes across other useful sites and resources, please let me know.