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No Animals Allowed on School Grounds:

A discussion of how rules and laws are written and interpreted

Adapted from Florida Southern College

https://www.flsouthern.edu/FSC/media/other/jtc/lessons/No-Animals-on-Campus-(4).pdf

www.justtwoteachers.com

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What is a law?

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How are rules similar to laws?

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Example of a Law

Nevada Revised Statutes 392.040(1):

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“Except as otherwise provided by law, each parent, custodial parent, guardian or other person in the State of Nevada having control or charge of any child between the ages of 7 and 18 years shall send the child to a public school during all the time the public school is in session in the school district in which the child resides unless the child has graduated from high school.”

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Example of a Law

Nevada Revised Statutes 205.067:

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“A person who, by day or night, forcibly enters an inhabited dwelling without permission of the owner, resident or lawful occupant, whether or not a person is present at the time of the entry, is guilty of invasion of the home.” NRS 205.067

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Example of a Rule or Ordinance

Section 22.02.040, Administrative Code, City of Reno:

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“Each year in adopting the city's annual capital improvement budget, the city council shall provide in said budget for amounts of two percent of the total amount budgeted for each eligible construction project to be set aside and identified as sources of funds to be appropriated and expended for acquisition of works of art in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.” 

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What is the Supreme Law of the Land?

The United States Constitution

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What does this mean?

The Constitution delineates, or describes, the powers of each branch of government.

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The Three Branches of Government

The Legislative Branch makes the laws

This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY

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The Three Branches of Government

The Executive Branch executes the laws

This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-NC

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The Three Branches of Government

The Judicial Branch Interprets the laws

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What else does “Supreme Law of the Land” mean?

  • Laws enacted, or made, by the legislative branch cannot conflict with the United States Constitution
  • If conflict exists, the law will be invalid or seen as unconstitutional

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Consider the following proposed new rule for your school:��No animals are allowed on school grounds (the school property)

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What do you think of this rule?

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Ask yourself

  • What is the rule intended or meant to accomplish?
  • Will the rule create a better school?
  • Will the rule keep students safe?

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Ask yourself

  • Is the rule reasonable?
  • Is the rule clear and easy to follow?
  • What should be the penalty or punishment if someone does not follow the rule?

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Ask yourself

  • Is the rule fair?
  • Can the rule be applied to everyone equally, or in the same way?

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The Activity

  • You will be put into groups of four. You will serve as judges.
  • Read the following scenarios and the key events. Discuss and decide:
    • Do the key events and “factual patterns” violate the law?
    • How does the rule apply to each event or factual pattern?
    • If the events or factual pattern violates the rule, what punishment would you impose, or do, if you were the principal?

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Fact Pattern 1

A teacher would like to bring in mice for a classroom science project. The mice will be kept in a cage.

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Fact Pattern 2

A parent walks her child to school each morning with the family dog on a leash. They walk onto school grounds to ensure that the child arrives safely.

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Fact Pattern 3

A visually impaired student brings her companion dog to school to help her move from class to class.

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This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA

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Fact Pattern 4

A student brings a stuffed animal to school for show and tell.

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This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND

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Fact Pattern 5

A police dog enters campus with a police officer to investigate a crime.

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This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-ND

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Fact Pattern 6

A student brings a frog to school in his lunch box to scare other students.

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This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND

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Fact Pattern 7

A hungry, abandoned dog wanders on campus and a student feeds him leftovers from the cafeteria.

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This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-ND

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No animals allowed on school grounds

What do you think of this rule?

This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY

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Review the questions asked earlier:

  • What is the rule intended or meant to accomplish?
  • Will the rule create a better school?
  • Will the rule keep students safe?
  • Is the rule reasonable?
  • Is the rule reasonable?
  • Is the rule clear and easy to follow?
  • What should be the penalty or punishment if someone does not follow the rule?
  • Is the rule fair?
  • Can the rule be applied to everyone equally, or in the same way?

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Here is your opportunity:

  • Rewrite the rule so that it is:
    • fair and reasonable
    • clear and easy to understand
  • Post the rules around the room and discuss

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Consider

  • What would life be like in a school, city, or country without rules?
  • Would you want to live in a society without rules?

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Thank you!

Presentation updated by Aaron Grossman

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