Dialogue on Freedom: About the Program: Questions & Answers

Questions and Answers about Dialogue on Freedom

Q: What is a Dialogue on Freedom?
A: A Dialogue on a Freedom is a carefully planned discussion between a lawyer or judge and a class of high school students. The program explores American values and civic traditions and the underlying principles of a free and democratic society.

Q: How do I participate in the program?
A: Review the information on this website, and then identify a high school in your community where you would like to conduct a Dialogue on Freedom. Detailed information on identifying a school, working with a teacher, and speaking to students can be found on this site's "Preparing for a Dialogue" and "Leading a Dialogue" pages.

Q: I understand that this is a nationwide program. How can students in my community contribute to a national Dialogue on Freedom?
A: As part of this program, we are asking each classroom that participates in a Dialogue on Freedom to prepare lists of books, movies, and historical events that have defined our freedoms and what it means to be an American. These lists will form the basis of a national list of books and movies that best express American values, as well as a "Great Events in Freedom" timeline. See the "Sharing the Experience" section of this site's "Following Up" page.

Q: How can I receive and offer feedback on my classroom experience?
A: We hope that all Dialogue on Freedom leaders take the time to complete the Dialogue Leader's Report to the ABA, which you can download from this site's "Following Up" page. We have also provided a form that students in the classroom you visit can use to evaluate their experience, also downloadable from the "Following Up" page.

Q: What if I need more information?
A: If the materials on this website do not answer your questions, please call the ABA Division for Public Education at 312-988-5735, or e-mail abapubed@abanet.org.

Note: The views expressed here have not been approved by the House of Delegates or the Board of Governors of the American Bar Association, and accordingly, should not be construed as representing the policy of the American Bar Association.