We are pleased to announce our Sixth Annual Law Day Essay Contest.
Our Law Day Essay Contest is designed to encourage young people to think about the role of law in society and how law affects their everyday lives, even at a young age. Local attorney Warren Caswell has sponsored this contest each year since opening his practice in Madison County. Law Day, May 1st of each year, was first proclaimed by President Eisenhower in 1958. Law Day is a day of national dedication to the principle of government under law so that we all can strengthen our American heritage of liberty, justice and equality under the law.
The 2012 Law Offices of Warren C. Caswell Seventh Annual Law Day Essay Contest is open to students in the 9th-12th grades residing in Madison, Elbert, Oglethorpe, Franklin, Hart, Jackson and Banks counties. Essays will be judged on how well the writer deals with the topic and how persuasive the writer presents his/her argument.
The topic this year asks students should creationism (that God created Heaven and Earth and everything on it) be taught in public schools? The First Amendment to the Constitution prohibits the government from making any law “. . .respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof. . .” Public schools are a government institution which undoubtedly form and shape the future of our society. Given our law and the great influence which schools can have on the future, should a religious doctrine such as creationism be something which is taught in school rather than only in church or at home. Entrants should choose a side either for or against teaching in school and write a persuasive essay for their chosen side. The essay should attempt to balance their desired goal with the direction of our law and Constitution. More information on the topic can be found here: here
First Prize is a $500.00 cash scholarship while the runner-up will receive a $200 Cash Scholarship. Essays must be postmarked by April 14, 2012 to be eligible for consideration. The winners will be announced on May 1st 2012. The winning essays will be published in our on-line newsletter, published on our website and the manuscript will be submitted to the student’s local newspaper, in addition to the cash prize.
All entries must be accompanied by a completed and signed entry form available here.
Entry Form
Rules:
The purpose of the Law Day Essay Contest is to encourage students to think about the role of law in American Government and how they interact with law on a daily basis- even as youths. The winning entries are posted below in Adobe pdf format.
2nd Place Miss Madeline Yearwood