Lessons of Justice and Empathy - On Coal River

This weekend, I previewed On Coal River (tells the story of Marsh Fork Elementary and its fight for a new school), awesome documentary! I purchased a license for the film and will be showing it in my Introduction to Law class in a few weeks, as we discuss lessons of justice and empathy. On Coal River is receiving numerous awards, including the Gotham Award for the “Best Film Not Playing (yet?) at a Theater Near You.”

Variety Review: West Virginians "best a corporate Goliath… Keenly observed… Respectful, thorough, and relevant.”

For new Crazy Classroom blog readers, I have followed the plight of Marsh Fork for years. Here is my most recent post on the subject, re-published in The Huffington Post:

Lessons of Justice for College Students: Grandpa versus Big Coal

by Perry Binder

This is not an environmental issue. This is about a little human being. -- Ed Wiley (Grandpa) speaking to then West Virginia Governor Manchin (now U.S. Senator)

While the media insults and labels the youth of every generation like an X or Y or Z (oh you Slackers, Echoes, and Netters), I instead see college students bringing energy and a common message of hope to the table: to make a difference in their lives and those of others. And in an Introduction to Law class, it is my job to find them real world cases to teach lessons of justice and injustice. So let's meet Ed Wiley and the kids at Marsh Fork Elementary School.

Continue reading at Crazy Classroom and The Huffington Post:
http://yourrubberroom.blogspot.com/2010/10/lessons-of-justice-for-college-students.html