Law is such a complex domain where you need to learn a lot of things and go through a lot of cases to say that you are an expert. Those who study and get an education at a law college could say that they know more than anyone else. The saddest thing about this is that if you do not study law in college, your law knowledge is pretty limited.
People do not know how a legal system works or what a judge does, but they know the rules they need to obey. This is something valid for kids too. We teach them how to behave and obey different rules, but are they aware of the legal system and how it is working?
Civic awareness is essential and kids are learning a lot of things that develop their skills and enlarge their knowledge, such as math, history, chemistry, literature, geography, and more. But learning law is seen as too complicated and complex for them even though it can be simplified. So, when should kids start learning law?
Learning Law
Learning law is complex. There are many rules, laws, previous cases, and so on that you need to be aware of. Many students are challenged by the tasks and assignments they have, but they can use Studyclerk and their law research paper writing service. However, it’s clear and understandable that as you know more about the world, you can understand everything better. When is the right moment to start teaching children law? Well, it depends. Nowadays children have access to a lot of information and they are already accumulating it. They are more aware of their behaviors and surroundings than were children a couple of years ago.
Starting at 10 years might seem too soon, but they can understand basic law and civic awareness concepts. With more and more foundations who want to raise the civic awareness of youngsters by teaching them about the legal system, children are learning more about this topic. There are even workshops for children aged 12-13 where they learn more about laws and what can each of them do to produce a change.
Legal Reasoning Skills
Kids should start learning law because it will teach them legal reasoning skills. Every school and education system wants to teach a set of skills to children, such as organization, time management, essay writing, and so on. Helping them improve their legal reasoning skills will have an incredible effect on their adolescent and adulthood lives.
Understanding the laws you need to obey, but also which are the consequences of disobeying the law is essential. This helps anyone make better decisions that do not harm their freedom. Having legal reasoning skills will be the tools children need to understand a problem and its consequences and make an informed and safe decision.
More Knowledge, Less Emotion
Well, one of the fallouts of today’s society is that people fall for rhetorical arguments and do not fully understand the political picture that is in every country or state. This makes many people make decisions based on emotions, which are not the best decisions they could make. Understanding the legal system, how to advocate for change, how most things are working in the law domain come with more knowledge for children.
Of course, the content of the course should be adapted depending on their existing knowledge. But it can slowly be developed so that they reach adolescence or adulthood already having some legal reasoning skills and law knowledge so that they can make the best decisions. This will also reduce the number of people who fall for bad political arguments that are currently dividing every country and society.
Conclusion
So, when is the best time to start teaching kids law? Well, as soon as possible. Even though their knowledge of the world is limited at the beginning, law content can be adapted to their level of understanding. Teaching kids law should not be a one-time course, but one that is present in every level and grade.
Constantly learning about advocacy, legal change, protests, laws, and rules is essential and it will help children make more informed decisions. Moreover, having basic legal knowledge will help them better understand the political environment in their countries and involve them to make a change or cast their vote for their favorite candidate.
Bio lines: Michael Turner is a content and essay writer. He is passionate about the law and writes frequently his opinions or critics regarding legal changes or laws. Michael advocates for teaching children law in schools.
I am a former law professor (22 years) and then a college president. I just taught law to rising 9th and 10th graders at WCSU college bound program. It is a course titled: Dealing with Rules. We used No Vehicles in the Park, the famous legal hypothetical, as the backdrop and the students made rules, applied rules, amended rules. It was a vehicle for teaching students how to think and read carefully and consider words and their meaning. I also, many moon ago, was a trainer in the Philadelphia public schools on law related education and taught two legal courses at an alternative high school in Philly. Criminal law was a real hit! Law teaching is actually about thinking and reasoning — skills that benefit students at all ages and stages. Asking good questions is an art form and by asking them, students learn to ask good questions too. Reach out if you want to learn more about the course I recently taught. Happy to share the 6 session syllabus. karengrosscooper@gmai..com.