Workshops for Representative Democracy in America and Project Citizen were held for Oklahoma teachers at the Oklahoma Bar Center in Oklahoma City on Sept. 25.

Teachers representing nearby schools in Oklahoma City, Edmond, McLoud, and Wewoka were on hand to benefit from free resource materials available through the Center for Civic Education. Other teachers began their day early, traveling from Lawton, Walters, Temple, Locust Grove, and Wagoner to gain civic education resources and professional development credits.

The day began with District 3 Project Citizen Coordinator, Janet Cook, reviewing the Project Citizen curriculum. Project Citizen teaches students how to define a problem within the community, research the problem, and develop a plan of action. Students in 5th-8th grades have the opportunity to submit their portfolios for district and state competition.

Representative Democracy in America Trainer, Becky Walderbach, conducted the afternoon session. Educators were introduced to a number of multi-media supplemental resource materials for teaching representative democracy.

The Law-related Education (LRE) Department of the Oklahoma Bar Association was established in 1989 to further the OBA's goals of increasing public service and enhancing public understanding of the law and the legal system. They conduct several training programs for educators and students throughout the year. Find out more at www.okbar.org/public/lre.