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Partner with TYLA & Make a Difference in Our Schools
By Melissa Sherman

Summer 2003
Jul 1, 2003, 20:53

The Texas Young Lawyers Association has taken the lead, in association with other State Bar groups, to put together several great service programs geared to get legal information into the community. Two of these programs are “Junior Judges: Helping Kids Make Smart Choices” and “It Could Be You: Speak Out Against Crime in Your School.” These programs are designed for presentations to students to stimulate their awareness of issues around them and steer them into being responsible members of their communities.

When we read the paper or watch the news, we are often amazed at the young age of children accused of committing various crimes. The earlier we can reach children and impress upon them the realities of crime and the importance of making good choices, the greater our impact can be on those statistics. “Junior Judges: Helping Kids Make Smart Choices” is designed to inform elementary school children of the potential consequences, for them and their families, of making the wrong choice.

The “Junior Judges” video portrays children faced with tough decisions; the curriculum then takes them through a discussion of the decision and the smart choice. The students can then be divided into actors and “Junior Judges” so that the actors can act our scenarios leading into a tough decision and the judges can help the actors make the smart choice for each decision. The curriculum is divided into self-contained units on cheating, destroying property, bullying, teasing, stealing, drugs and alcohol, and gangs and weapons. There is also material available for discussions on the differences between criminal courts and juvenile courts, culpable mental states, and civil causes of action.

In today’s climate of school violence, it is important to encourage students to speak up and take an active role in maintaining the safety of their school and their community. However, at the same time they face strong peer pressure not to be a snitch. “It Could Be You: Speak Out Against Crime in Your School” is a program designed to be presented to 7th through 10th graders to help them deal with this type of peer pressure and its associated choices.

The “It Could Be You” video presents real-life situations that students face daily at school. The program also lets students know how to make anonymous reports for those who are afraid of retaliation. There are also resource materials provided to address juvenile crime, possible penalties, and school crime statistics.

Both of these excellent programs, as well as others designed by TYLA, have a video and written curriculum available. They are prepared in such a way that you do not have to be an attorney to make the presentations. As legal assistants, we have access to this free material and the opportunity to make a difference for children across Texas. I encourage you to contact the TYLA office at (800) 204-2222, ext. 6429, and speak with Carol McCord, Director of Administration, to obtain the materials and begin making a difference in your community.

Melissa Sherman has been a paralegal at Amis & Bell, counsel for Farmers Insurance Company, for 10 years. Ms.Sherman has been a member of the Legal Assistants Division since 1993, has served on its board of directors and will serve as its President for the 2003-2004 term. She became a CLA in 1992 and became board certified by the TBLS as a Civil Trial Legal Assistant in 1995.
Texas Paralegal Journal © Copyright 2003 by the Legal Assistants Division, State Bar of Texas.

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Texas Paralegal Journal © Copyright 2003 by the Legal Assistants Division, State Bar of Texas.