In October 2009, President Barack Obama signed into law the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act. The new law expands the definition of hate-crime victims, requires additional tracking of hate crimes by the FBI and removes previous restrictions on the prosecution of hate crimes. In these lessons, students will review the nature of hate, understand how laws are created in America, review and present statistical information related to hate crimes, compare the new law to previous hate-crimes legislation and deepen their knowledge of Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr.
Professional Development
Increasingly diverse school populations mean that campuses are not, unfortunately, immune to hate crimes. The U.S. Department of Justice addresses the needs of teachers and school administrators in “Preventing Youth Hate Crime: A Manual for Schools and Communities,” [1] available online in PDF form. This resource provides ideas both for immediate action and long-term policy responses to hate crimes, as well as a list of successful programs on campuses around the nation.
EARLY GRADES [2] (3-5)
MIDDLE GRADES [3] (6-8)
HIGH SCHOOL [4] (9-12)
Standards
Activities and the embedded assessments address the following standards (McREL 4th Edition [5]):
Language Arts
Standard 1. Uses the general skills and strategies of the writing process.
Standard 2. Uses the stylistic and rhetorical aspects of writing.
Standard 4. Gathers and uses information for research purposes.
Standard 7. Uses reading skills and strategies to understand and interpret a variety of informational texts.
Civics
Standard 3. Understands the sources, purposes, and functions of law, and the importance of the rule of law for the protection of individual rights and the common good.
Standard 5. Understands the major characteristics of systems of shared powers and of parliamentary systems.
Standard 14. Understands issues concerning the disparities between ideals and reality in American political and social life.
Mathematics
Standard 6. Understands and applies basic and advanced concepts of statistics and data analysis.
Standard 9. Understands the general nature and uses of mathematics.
Performing Arts
Standard 1. Demonstrates competence in writing scripts.
Standard 3. Designs and produces informal and formal productions.
Technology
Standard 2. Knows the characteristics and uses of computer software programs.
Thinking and Reasoning
Standard 1. Understands and applies the basic principles of presenting an argument.
Standard 3. Effectively uses mental processes that are based on identifying similarities and differences.
Working with Others
Standard 1. Contributes to the overall effort of a group.
Standard 4. Displays effective interpersonal communication skills.
Links:
[1] http://www.justice.gov/crs/pubs/prevyouhatecrim.pdf
[2] http://www.tolerance.org/supplement/hate-crimes-legislation-early-grades
[3] http://www.tolerance.org/supplement/hate-crimes-legislation-middle-grades
[4] http://www.tolerance.org/supplement/hate-crimes-legislation-high-school
[5] http://www.mcrel.org/compendium/browse.asp