Area Schools Prepare For Chief Justice's Visit
As a prelude to the May 16 visit of Supreme Court Chief Justice William H.
Rehnquist to officially dedicate the Robert H. Jackson Center at 305 East Fourth St.,an educational project focusing on the Constitution, Supreme Court and the roleof the chief justice of the United States has been developed for the Chautauqua Countyschools.
More than 15,000 students at the elementary, middle and high school levels
will receive literature within the next week as a supplement to the existing Americanhistory and social studies curriculum.
''We're trying to make the Chief Justice's visit an educational opportunity for
the schools,'' said Rolland Kidder, Robert H. Jackson Center executive director.
''Our hope is that teachers will use this with their students and really bring it to
life by coming here Rehnquist's visit.'' Kidder said one of the center's main missions is to help educate students on what justice means in today's world. Developed by the Jackson Center's educationcommittee, the supplement will be distributed to pupils in grades 4 and 5, 7and 8, and 11 and 12 in which instruction on American history takes place as a reinforcement to discussions on the Constitution, the three branches of government,and the workings of the Supreme Court. ''We felt it was critically important forstudents throughout Chautauqua County to fully understand the Constitution, theSupreme Court and the relationship between Chief Justice Rehnquist and JusticeRobert H. Jackson,'' said Ann Abdella, Jackson Center education committeechairwoman. ''As thousands of students will be in attendance at Justice Rehnquist's keynote address, we wanted to provide an additional education component to their American history and social studies classes. This visit, and their participationin it, could very well be the most significant historical event they are ever involved in and we are ensuring they have the very best understanding of our government."
''Everyone is welcome to attend,'' said Paul Benson, a member of the educationcommittee. ''It's going to be a very interesting day in the history of Jamestown.You don't have the chief justice of the United States in town very often. He's theequivalent of the president of the United States, except for the Supreme Court.''Benson developed the pamphlet that will be distributed to the school childrenand general public at the event. A grant through the Johnson Foundation of Jamestown is covering the expense. ''At the education committee, we discussed having a versatile informational tool to more or less announce the ChiefJustice coming and to be an informational piece of literature,'' Benson said. According to him, the information will be posted soon on the center's Web site.
Chief Justice Rehnquist, a former law clerk to Supreme Court Justice Robert H. Jackson, will assist in dedicating the Jamestown building that has become the home of the Jackson Center. Rehnquist, who has led the Supreme Court since 1986, will discuss his experiences with Jackson and how his leadership and work continue to impact government power and functions today. The ceremony, set for 11 a.m. on May 16, will be tailored primarily to educate Jamestown area school children. It is anticipated that many of the schools will permit students to attend the ceremony.
''We are extremely pleased and honored that Chief Justice Rehnquist will be
participating in the ceremony to essentially honor his former supervisor, Justice Jackson,'' said Gregory L. Peterson, Robert H. Jackson Center board of directors president. ''Justice Rehnquist, after graduating at the top of his class from Stanford Law School, was invited to join Jackson's Supreme Court staff as a law clerk. Evidently, their relationship had quite an impact on the chief justice's career and perhaps his participation in this event best illustrates that.'' The second component of the educational piece surrounding the visit involvesan essay contest for seventh- and eighthgrade pupil detailing the connectionbetween the Constitution and the Supreme Court. The contest, coordinated through volunteer assistance from the Jamestown Masonic Consistory, is themed around Justice Jackson and how his works continue to influence government policies and practices today.
The winner of the contest will be honored with a savings bond and a plaque that will be awarded by Chief Justice Rehnquist at the dedication. The winning essay will also be posted on the Robert H. Jackson Web site.
For more information, visit the center's Web site at www.roberthjackson.org or
call the center, 483-6646.