CONTACT: Teresa Weidemann-Smith
State Bar of Wisconsin
(800) 444-9404, ext. 6025
twsmith@wisbar.org
Shager receives Wisconsin Law-Related Teacher of the Year Award
MADISON, March 31, 2006 — Alternative high
school Work and Learn Center teacher Erik Shager of Madison will receive
the Bill Eau Claire Memorial Award for Teaching Excellence from the
State Bar of Wisconsin. The award will be presented on Monday, April 3
at 7:15 p.m. at the District Administration Building, 545 West Dayton
Street in Madison by Mike Tobin, Co-chair of the State Bar of Wisconsin
Law-related Education Committee.
The Work and Learn Center (WLC) alternative high school provides
students in grades 11-12 a four-semester sequence of academic courses
and related work experiences that emphasize a core academic curriculum
for each semester.
"Through the curriculum he has developed, Erik teaches about
democracy and civics on a daily basis. He provides leadership to his
school program and the Madison Metropolitan School District," said
Art Rainwater, Superintendent of the Madison Metropolitan School
District. "Through these activities he is able to dramatically
impact the lives of his students."
Shager has taught 10 years in the high school's Work and Learn
Center, which provides a four-semester sequence of academic courses and
work experience leading to graduation for students who are "at
risk." The program serves a challenging, diverse group of students,
many of whom failed to connect academically at a traditional high
school.
Shager will receive the award for his efforts in developing a
curriculum for students emphasizing social issues and Supreme Court
cases both current and past. He has students study such cases as
Hilbel v. Six Judicial Court of Nevada – providing
identification to police; Plyer v. Doe – schooling and
children of illegal immigrants; and Maryland v. Pringle –
can police arrest everyone in a car and sort them out later? All of
these cases are designed to be of high interest, encourage critical
thinking, and at the same time teach about social issues, civic
responsibility, and the legal system.
The award, established in 1993, was named after Bill Eau Claire, a
teacher in Green Bay who championed law-related education in his
classroom, community and the state for many years. The award is
presented annually to an educator who has excelled in promoting,
developing or teaching law-related education.
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