Ohio Teachers Receive Constitutional Lesson
By Bret Crow
September 12, 2012 

Ohio teachers learned more about the three branches of government and how to teach them to their students on Tuesday and today at the Thomas J. Moyer Ohio Judicial Center and Ohio Statehouse. The teachers were participating in the annual Ohio Government in Action program sponsored by the Ohio Center for Law-Related Education. 

The two-day seminar devoted to Ohio’s government and history, which concluded today, was designed for teachers by teachers using the state’s Academic Content Standards for Social Studies as their guide. The professional development opportunity also included information on the Ohio Constitution and Ohio history. 

The session on the judicial branch included welcoming remarks by Chief Justice Maureen O’Connor, taking a tour of the Visitor Education Center, observing an Ohio Supreme Court oral argument session, and lunch with Chief Justice O’Connor and Justices Terrence O’Donnell and Judith Ann Lanzinger. 

The Statehouse portion of the program included a tour, an information session on the executive branch, lunch, and meetings with legislators. 

Lisa Eschleman, OCLRE executive director, said OCLRE is excited to partner with the Supreme Court, Governor Kasich, Attorney General DeWine, and members of the General Assembly “to provide teachers from across Ohio with a unique opportunity to experience first-hand how all three branches of government interpret and enforce Ohio's Constitution. Teachers will leave the conference with new and exciting resources that can be used in their classrooms every day.” 

OCLRE provides civic education programs to teachers and hosts mock trials and civic competitions for students with a goal of bringing citizenship to life. The Ohio Supreme Court supports OCLRE as a sponsor along with the ACLU of Ohio Foundation, the Attorney General’s Office, the Ohio State Bar Foundation and the Ohio State Bar Association.