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The Connecticut Bar Foundation James W. Cooper Fellows 2007-2008 Statewide High School Essay Contest
The Connecticut Bar Foundation is pleased to announce the Eighth Annual James W. Cooper Fellows Essay Contest. The 2007-2008 topic is “Mary’s Pot Luck - Students’ First Amendment Rights.” The topic hypothetical, (Attachment A), is premised on a case in which a high school student, Joseph Frederick, displayed a banner reading “Bong Hits 4 Jesus” during the Olympic torch relay in Alaska. The student and his classmates were standing across the street from school, having been released from classes to see the torch. The school principal, Deborah Morse, suspended the student for violating the school’s policy against displaying materials that promoted illegal drug use. The student subsequently sued the principal. The United States Supreme Court heard the case, Morse v. Frederick, and issued a ruling which addressed the First Amendment as it applies to student’s right to free speech.
A contest entry must not exceed 1000 words, and as stated below, must be in the form of a letter written: (1) by the principal to the school board; or (2) by Mary to the school board; or (3) by the school board to Mary and the principal. The contest winner will receive a $3,000 savings bond and the two runners-up will receive $1,500 savings bonds. The students, school contest coordinators and principals will receive awards which will be presented at a ceremony presided over by Connecticut Supreme Court Justices at the Connecticut Supreme Court.
The contest is open to high school students, vocational technical school students, students enrolled in a high school diploma credit program under the age of 21 and homeschoolers.
We invite all interested students to submit entries through their school’s teachers or, in the case of homeschoolers, through their parent/guardian . See Rules (Attachment B).
Essays from each school must be submitted to the Connecticut Bar Foundation in Hartford, postmarked no later than March 7, 2008.
The following materials are provided on this site at the links highlighted below:
· Essay Topic - The topic of the essay is “Mary’s Pot Luck - Students’ First Amendment Rights.” Click here for more information on the topic (Attachment A)
· Contest Rules - A copy of these rules should be given to each student who will be participating in the contest. (Attachment B)
· Judging Criteria and Procedures - This sets forth the criteria which will be used to evaluate the essays submitted to the Foundation. (Attachment C)
· Submittal Form - This form should be completed by the teacher(s) from each school and must accompany the entry packet. (Form 1)
· Home Submittal Form - This form should be completed by the homeschooler’s parent/guardian and must accompany the entry packet. (Form 1-H)
· Student Entry and Release Form - The Student Entry and Release Form must be submitted with each student’s entry packet. (Form 2)
· Home School Student Entry and Release Form - The Home School Student Entry and Release Form must be submitted with the homeschooler’s entry packet. (Form 2-H)
· Parent or Guardian Release Form - If the student is under 18 years of age, this form must be signed by the parent or legal guardian of the student-writer of the entry, and submitted with the entry packet. (Form 3)
If you have any questions, please contact the Connecticut Bar Foundation at 860-722-2494 or email to ctbf@cbf-1.org.
We hope that you will agree that this contest provides students with an exciting opportunity to earn scholarship funds while advancing their understanding of the role of law in the world around them. We look forward to receiving your entry, postmarked no later than March 7, 2008. |