Spring 2016

Entries due by April 15, 2016
Law Day 2016 Asks
Tough Questions about
Security, Privacy
& Students’ Rights
“You have the right to remain silent.
Anything you say can be used against
you in a court of law. You have the right
to an attorney. If you cannot afford an
attorney, one will be provided for you.
Do you understand these rights?”
These brief words are well-known, thanks to the popularity
of television crime dramas. The implications, however, are
far greater than the words and those implications are the
subject of Muskegon County Law Day, 2016.
The theme, Miranda: More Than Words, will give
students throughout Muskegon County the opportunity
to draw, write, and speak about the rights of the accused
and broaden the thinking to a school setting. Elementary
students in grades 3rd-5th can compete in an art contest,
exploring the meaning of a variety of due process rights
and equal protection under the law. Middle school students
will be able to write an essay, arguing their position on how
these rights might apply in a school setting. High school
students will create persuasive speeches on the same topic.
To write a strong essay or speech in response to the prompt
below, students will have to struggle with the dilemmas
seemingly taken right from the news: the use of police
power, the extent of school authority, the need to keep
schools safe, individual rights of students to privacy, and
protection from self-incrimination.
When a person is taken into custody and accused of breaking
the law, the Supreme Court decision in Miranda v. Arizona
requires police officers to inform that person of certain rights -
such as the right to remain silent and the right to an attorney
– before questioning the accused about the alleged crime.
The law also provides those accused of a crime with the right
to confront their accuser. If an assistant principal called a
student into the office and accused that student of breaking
a school rule, should the rights that student has in a criminal
setting be applied to that student in a school setting?
Should that student have the right to confront his/her accuser?
Should that student have the right to have a parent present
during the meeting with the assistant principal?
Students are expected to provide reasoned and evidencebased
arguments, not just their opinions. They are
evaluated by a group of attorneys from the Muskegon
County Bar Association. Prizes including scholarships for
high school seniors, are awarded for the best speeches,
essays, and art entries, and recognition is given to the
student’s sponsoring teacher and principal. Additionally,
an educator is honored by the Bar Association for their
outstanding contribution to law related education. Entries
for all contests are due by April 15, 2016.
For more information, visit http://bit.ly/1QC8fJo or contact
David Klemm at dklemm@muskegonisd.org or 231-767-7255.
Submitted by David Klemm, Social Studies and Special Projects Consultant, 231-767-7255 or dklemm@muskegonisd.org