Document Type
Article
Publication Title
Columbia Journal of Race and Law
Abstract
In Derrick Bell’s Community-based Classroom, I argue that Derrick Bell enhanced his participatory pedagogical approach to teaching constitutional law by intentionally creating community within the law school classroom — a community that humanized the students’ educational experience. This essay explores three ways in which he created community: through his participatory, student-centered course structure; his social classroom environment; and his interactive self-assessments. Over the past few years, legal education has come under indictment in the media for not adequately training lawyers for practice. Bell’s community-based classroom responds to this indictment, fusing both theory and practice in teaching doctrinal constitutional law courses that aim to transform students into competent, caring professionals.
First Page
44
Last Page
48
Publication Date
2012
Recommended Citation
Radice, Joy, Derrick Bell’s Community-Based Classroom (June 11, 2012). Columbia Journal of Race and Law, Vol. Special Feature, 2012, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2082439