Published: July 21, 2008 10:10 am      

Sooner Rose teacher particiaptes in class on good citizenship

Jennifer Bazzit teaches fourth and fifth grade social studies at Sooner Rose Elementary School in Midwest City because she thinks it’s important to help students become better citizens. Bazzit also got a crash course in citizenship on July 13-17 as part of the Programs Advancing Citizenship Education Institute, coordinated by the Oklahoma Bar Association. She was one of 12 teachers selected from an application process to attend. The entire week was funded by the Oklahoma Bar Association.

Bazzit said she was surprised at how much she learned during the conference.

“I didn’t know as much as I thought I knew,” she admitted.

During the conference, Bazzit became familiar with economic, judicial and legislative systems in Oklahoma. She said the institute really pushed various ways the information could be brought back into classrooms. She was appreciate of the resources the conference provided her with. She noted that the information she received on the Bill of Rights will really help her in her classroom.

“That’s a big topic in the fifth grade,” she said.

Because of the emphasis on reading and math in order for students to do well in standardized testing, Bazzit feels that social studies is often overlooked in the education system.

“The kids coming up really don’t know much about government at all,” she commented.

The historical topic that really captivates her fifth grade students is the American Revolution. Bazzit also shares this interest with her students.

“This PACE Institute is designed to show teachers that there are many free resources for educators to help them reach their students in more positive ways,” said OBA Law-related Education Coordinator Jane McConnell. As part of the opening reception, the teachers listened to a presention by Attorney General Drew Edmondson and a keynote speech by Frosty Troy, founding editor of The Oklahoma observer and member of the Oklahoma Journalism Hall of Fame



Cutline: Suggested cutline: Law-related Education Committee Chairperson Jack Clark (right) with Jenifer Bazzit (left) at the 19th Annual PACE Institute that took place last week at the Reed Center in Midwest City.