The Indiana Supreme Court partnered with the Indiana State Bar Association to host a statewide birthday bash for Abraham Lincoln. The 200th anniversary of Lincoln’s birth was February 12, 2009. Chief Justice Randall T. Shepard invited attorneys to join him in honoring America’s 16th President by visiting classrooms around the state.
It is estimated that 30,000 Indiana school children learned about Lincoln through the volunteer program “Why Lincoln Was A Lawyer.” The project was created by Courts in the Classroom, the educational outreach program of the Indiana Supreme Court. It is specifically designed for attorneys to teach school children about Lincoln and the law. Attorney talking points and teacher lesson plans are available online at courts.IN.gov/citc/lessons/lincoln.
Each participating classroom received a book about Abraham Lincoln, courtesy of the Indiana State Bar Association.
Chief Justice Shepard visited Crispus Attucks Medical Magnet High School, an Indianapolis Public School. “This volunteer opportunity is a wonderful way to help students learn about citizenship and the law. It is a chance to relate the story of an Indiana child who eventually became one of our nation’s greatest leaders. I am confident others who join in the celebration will be glad they participated.”
In the 2009 State of the Judiciary, Chief Justice Shepard spoke about the lessons learned from Lincoln’s life as a lawyer. The Chief Justice also spoke about Lincoln’s Indiana roots and the pride associated with having Lincoln as a native son. He received rousing applause when he reminded the General Assembly what former Governor Otis Bowen used to say about Lincoln and his association with Illinois. “Indiana made Lincoln and Lincoln made Illinois!” The complete comments of Chief Justice Shepard on the Lincoln program can be found in the final paragraphs of his address in the section entitled “An Anniversary That Prompts Hope.”
The Lincoln program is about more than honoring an Indiana native or fulfilling a curriculum requirement. The project speaks to the heart of what it means to be a citizen and what it means to play a role in our democracy. There are many Lincoln quotes worth remembering and many great speeches worth reciting—for school children across the state, February 12th was a day to examine why Lincoln’s life is worth emulating.