The Schechter Brothers’ Contribution
Guiding Questions
How can one person’s talent, passions, and work affect society?
Objectives
- Students will be able to define contribution.
- Students will be able to define vocation.
- Students will be able to identify at least three ways individuals can contribute to society.
- Students will be able to explain the way in which the Schechter Brothers contributed to society in the face of challenges from the National Recovery Administration.
Student Handouts
- Contribution and Benefits Launch Activity
- Our Contributions: Who Benefits? Launch Activity
- Contribution: The Schechter Brothers Essay
- Discussion Guide: The Schechter Brothers’ Contribution
- Virtue in Action: The Schechter Brothers’ Contribution
- Contribution Worksheet
Educator Resources
- Contribution
- Vocation
- Embezzlement
- Kosher
- Kashrut
Citations
A.L.A. Schechter Poultry Corp. v. U.S. 55 S. Ct. 837. Supreme Court of the U.S. 1935.
Panama Refining Co. v. Ryan. 293 US 388. Supreme Court of the U.S. 1935.
Discuss the Guiding Question: How can one person’s talent, passions, and work affect society? with students. Introduce the definition of contribution.
Assign students to groups of 4 or 5 and distribute the Contribution & Benefits handout, one per student. First, allow time for individual students to complete questions 1 through 3.
After students have completed that portion, have each small group discuss their responses to the questions and have students complete their own Our Contributions: Who Benefits? Launch Activity table.
Have each group report, via their chosen reporter, the “contributions to society” statement they drafted.
Have students read The Schechter Brothers Essay and then use the Discussion Guide to review and analyze the reading with a partner or two. Ask students to submit written responses if desired.
Have each student complete the Contribution Worksheet activity.
Have students think of someone who embodies the idea of contribution. Students should research this person and prepare a short presentation about the person and their contribution.
Have students use the Virtue in Action handout to consider their personal application of the virtue of contribution.
