UNDERSTANDING CANADIAN LAW

WELCOME TO CLU3M

THE COURSE:

Course Description:• Students should know about the historical

development and philosophical foundations of our legal system. • Students need to develop respect for the law, an

understanding of its relevance to everyday life, and an appreciation of the benefits of a dynamic legal system. • The study of law enhances students’ ability to

participate effectively in society and to think critically and communicate effectively.

UNITS:

1. Legal Heritage• This strand relates to the historical and philosophical roots of our legal

system.• Canadian law is drawn from a number of sources, including English and

French law. As well, its philosophic base and concepts of justice and equity have been shaped by the work of various philosophers of natural and positive law. Through study of these sources, students will understand not only where our legal system has come from but also how it may change and develop in the future.

2. Rights and Freedoms• This strand focuses on human rights and freedoms as seen from a historical

and philosophical point of view. Students will examine what is meant by a right and how rights can be claimed. They will also investigate how the concept of human rights has evolved in Canada and the world, how minority rights are recognized, and how the conflict between minority and majority rights can be resolved in a democratic society.

UNITS:

3. Criminal Law and Procedures• This strand deals with the way society defines criminal actions and

behaviour and with the systems and structures established to investigate, prosecute, and impose sanctions on what is considered criminal. Embedded in these definitions and structures is the concept of justice. Students will study and evaluate both the principles and the procedures of the criminal justice system.

4. Civil Law - Regulation and Dispute Resolution• Law deals with the regulation of conduct, the settling of disputes,

and the resolution of conflicts. Civil law may include tort, contract, family, and employment law. Students will study both traditional and non-traditional methods of controlling or regulating conduct and settling disputes. In addition to investigating how disputes are settled in Canada, students will also examine international law and consider questions about the international implementation and enforcement of law

UNITS:

5. Methods of Legal Inquiry and Communication• Students of law draw on a wide range of skills and

information technologies. Students will integrate primary sources such as court visits, trial transcripts, and original documents with secondary sources such as newspaper articles or textbooks. They will also justify and support opinions on a variety of legal issues, using proper legal terminology. They will examine career opportunities in the legal field and work to communicate their findings effectively in written, oral, or visual forms.

ASSESSMENT AND EVALUATION OF STUDENT LEARNING

  WEIGHTING (%)  CATEGORIES OF

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND VALUES

TERM EVALUATI

ON

FINAL EVALUATI

ONACTIVITY

 

 Knowledge / Understanding

25% 25% 

 Thinking / Inquiry

25% 25% 

 Communication

25% 25% 

 Application / Making Connections

25% 25% 

BREAKDOWN OF FINAL MARK

70% 30% =100%

LET’S BEGIN…

CANADA AND ITS LAW

• Every country has its own history and culture that has shaped its laws and punishment• Laws tell us about a

country’s past (any examples?)• Laws reveal the current

values and beliefs of a country’s citizens (today?)• http://www.youtube.com/

watch?v=xnOWgCz5fj4

CANADA: A DEMOCRACY

• Citizens elect law makers who make laws that suit the majority of Canadians• By voting, Canadians choose

politicians to make laws that best suit their needs and opinions at that time• Elected officials control the law-

making process and its interpretation and enforcement

WHAT IS LAW?

• Apply to all members of society at all times• A legal rule made by the government• Someone who chooses to break a law will be

punished• Therefore: Individuals are free to do whatever they

want, with one exception: You must not do those things the law forbids, or prohibits

• Those that don’t agree with a law can lobby the government to change it through joining a lobby or pressure group

WHY DO WE HAVE LAWS?

• Laws usually create clear understanding about expected behaviour• As society grows it needs more law to control and

limit the behaviour of its citizens• To enforce these laws, a society introduces

punishments for breaking the law

THE FUNCTION OF LAW:

1. Establish Rules of Conduct2. Provide a System of Enforcement3. Protect Rights and Freedoms4. Protect Society5. Resolve Disputes

CLASSROOM LAWS AND CONSEQUENCES

• As a class lets determine the laws for this classroom- democratically:

• What laws/rules do you feel are needed for the effective running of this class (maintaining safety and promoting learning and respectful environment)?

• What are the consequences for breaking the laws that are connected to the intent (make them appropriate, no beheading or torture…)

LAW: CONSEQUENCE:

CLASSROOM LAWS AND CONSEQUENCES

CONSTITUT IONAL LAW = H IGHEST LAW

THE CONSTITUTIONAL LAWS OF THE CLASSROOM

AKA: SMUK’S LAW

WHY YOU NEED RULES AND STRUCTURE IN THE CLASSROOM

• You are still acquiring and developing the mental and cognitive (brain) processes needed into adulthood to be a functioning member of society –

• Decision Making

• Critical Thinking

• Making Connections

• Risk Management and Time Management

• Morality Development

• Problem Solving

• Responsibility

• Accountability

• Adolescents need a balance of independence and structure – appropriate structure is necessary to fully develop the skills you will need in your post secondary career and in your social life.

CLASSROOM RULES

ATTENDANCE• Students are expected to be in class on time

every day – make sure to bring an admit slip to verify valid absences• Attending class on time and participating in the

discussion is one way to ensure success and enjoyment from this course.

CLASSROOM RULES

PREPARATION• Be prepared! You should always have the

following for class. No matter what!• Notebook with all necessary handouts/materials • Pen/Pencil• Paper

• All missed course material can be found on the ClassNet website• You may email me at Cindy.Smukavich@wcdsb.ca

for questions

CLASSROOM RULES

RELATIONSHIPS/TEAMWORK:• Show respect for ALL persons and their personal

belongings in the room.• Respect yourself, your peers and staff.

Remember, everyone has the right to learn.• Cooperate and be friendly to others.

STUDY ON CELL PHONE USE DURING CLASS AND LEARNING:

Study: "Digital Devices, Distraction and Student Performance: Does In-Class Cell Phone Use Reduce Learning?”

http://aer.aas.org/resource/1/aerscz/v11/i1/p010108_s1?view=fulltext

Institution and Authors: University of Colorado at Boulder, Angel Hoekstra and Bethany Wilcox

Methods: Combining observation, survey, and interview data, this research assesses the effects of technology use on student attitudes and learning.

Results: Results show a significant negative correlation between in-class

cell phone use and final course grades. These findings are consistent with recent research suggesting students cannot multi-task nearly as effectively as they think they can.

• Meaning: High levels of cell phone use lead to distraction and lack of focus. Your marks will suffer.

CLASSROOM RULES

ATTENTION AND FOCUS

• No iPod or cell phone use during class. Devices will be taken away for the remainder of the period – no questions asked!

• You need to be completely attentive in this class!• Reading books, working on other classes, or even putting

your head down to nap will result in lack of success in the course.

• It is disrespectful !!!

CLASSROOM RULES

LATE ASSIGNMENT POLICY PAL (PRE-APPROVED LATE) FORM• Must be approved before the due date of the

summative – you will not be considered for a PAL form if you do not submit prior to due date of summative.• PAL forms can be found on the course Classnet

website• If the summative is submitted beyond the due date

(with no PAL form, or past the PAL form extension) students will lose 1/3 of their mark per DAY.

CLASSROOM RULES

SOME BASICS – RESPECTFUL BEHAVIOUR• Do not talk when I, or anyone else, are speaking

to the class• When I ask for quiet, you NEED to be quiet• When it is time for seatwork, you need to do your

work independently and quietly• When you are working in groups, you need to

stay focused on the task

PLAGIARISM POLICY

• Plagiarism occurs when an individual intentionally or unintentionally uses information and represents another person’s words, facts, ideas, translations, images (photographs, art work, graphs, etc.) or audio as their own by not giving credit to the creators.

• Plagiarism includes purchasing, copying, stealing or cutting and pasting some or all of another person’s work and submitting it as their own. Plagiarism may occur when a student fails to properly reference and cite sources or paraphrase information.

• Depending on the circumstance, students will receive a ZERO/INCOMPLETE for the summative or may be allowed to re-write the summative.

+

Questions?