The Wood County Bar Association is working to increase constitutional awareness among students across West Virginia through a new educational initiative. The program connects schools with legal professionals to help students better understand the U.S. Constitution and the role it plays in American government.
As part of the effort, Jefferson Elementary School hosted John Williams, supervising attorney for Legal Aid of West Virginia and president of the Wood County Bar Association, during its social studies fair Tuesday. The initiative includes participation in the National Constitution Center’s Scholar Exchange Program, which offers 45-minute virtual sessions with lawyers, judges, and constitutional scholars covering topics such as the Bill of Rights, the Electoral College, and the constitutional amendment process.
While the Scholar Exchange Program is virtual, the Wood County Bar Association is also working to bring local attorneys into classrooms to provide in-person connections for students. Jefferson Elementary will take part in a virtual Scholar Exchange session later this semester, and discussions are underway with the Wood County Board of Education to expand the program to additional schools throughout the county.
Learn more about the program: https://wvbar.org/national-constitution-center-scholar-exchange/