by Maria Mondo, Meadowdale Middle
Classroom Based Assessment for 8th grade social studies classes.
Introduction
Citizens in a democracy have the right and responsibility to make informed decisions. You will make an informed decision on a public issue after researching and discussing different perspectives on this issue.
Examples of Issues and Different Perspectives
Issue Perspective 1 Perspective 2 The ACLU believes this is the ultimate denial of civil liberties in our country. It violates the "cruel and unusual punishment" doctrine of the Constitution. The ACLU is fighting to end the death penalty with the ACLU Capital Punishment Project. Robert Macy, District Attorney of Oklahoma City, described his
concept of the need for retribution in one case: "In 1991, a young mother was
rendered helpless and made to watch as her baby was executed. The mother was
then mutilated and killed. The killer should not lie in some prison with three
meals a day, clean sheets, cable TV, family visits and endless appeals. For
justice to prevail, some killers just need to die." In the case of Tinker vs. Des Moines, the students believed their first amendment rights were being violated. Their lawyers said the first amendment right protects the rights of public school students to free speech in their schools and classrooms In the Tinker case, the administration believed they were making reasonable rules to maintain order in their schools.