Lesson
The Schechter Brothers’ Purpose
What struggles did the Schechter Brothers face running their business and how did they refuse to give up their values or compromise their purpose?
Founding Principles
Civic Virtue, Civil Discourse, Individual Responsibility, Liberty, Limited Government, Rule of Law
Virtues
Guiding questions
Walk-In-The-Shoes Questions
As you read, imagine you are the protagonist.
- What challenges are you facing?
- What fears or concerns might you have?
- What may prevent you from acting in the way you ought?
Observation Questions
- What was the role of the Schechter brothers? Why was their identity important to the narrative?
- What was the Schechter brothers’ purpose?
- Why did the Schechter brothers decide to fight the NIRA and NRA in court?
Discussion Questions
Discuss the following questions with your students.
- What is the historical context of the narrative?
- What historical circumstances presented a challenge to the protagonist?
- How and why did the individual exhibit a moral and/or civic virtue in facing and overcoming the challenge?
- How did the exercise of the virtue benefit civil society?
- How might exercise of the virtue benefit the protagonist?
- What might the exercise of the virtue cost the protagonist?
- Would you react the same under similar circumstances? Why or why not?
- How can you act similarly in your own life? What obstacles must you overcome in order to do so?
Learning objectives
- Students will analyze the purpose of the Schechter Brothers.
- Students will evaluate the Supreme Court decision regarding the Schechter Brothers’ practices.
- Students will act purposefully in their own lives.
