Dr. Kristen Ruth Bratt, Professor of Curriculum and Instruction at Penn State Altoona, was one of four recipients of the 2008 Public Scholarship Course Development Grants. Dr. Bratt received the grant for her project “Defending the Rights of American Children: Banned Book Defense Essays”.

As part of the project pre-service teachers will choose a book in danger of censorship, at the elementary school level, and mount a defense on student’s behalf. School children will also become involved, making their own arguements and delivering them through visual presentations on Constitution Day.

The Public Scholarship Course Development Grants are endowed by the Laboratory for Public Scholarship and Democracy. The Laboratory engages both Penn State and the surrounding community in exploring ethics and practices in the modern discourse.