By Justice Sandra Day O'Connor

Interview with WIRED magazine

June 4, 2008

ITEM DETAILS
Type: Interview
Location: WIRED magazine

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Transcript

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NEW YORK – Sandra Day O'Connor is going from Supreme Court justice to game maker.

Delivering the keynote address Wednesday at the annual Games For Change conference

at Parsons The New School For Design, O'Connor detailed a project she is spearheading called Our Courts, which she described as an "online, interactive civic education project for seventh- and eighth-graders" that familiarizes students with the legal system. O'Connor believes that America's youth aren't learning enough about civics, and thinks that the educational power of videogames is just the thing to change that.

"Only one-third of Americans can name the three branches of government," O'Connor said, "but two-thirds can name a judge on American Idol."

"If someone told me when I retired from court that I'd be talking at a conference about digital gaming, I'd think they'd had one drink too many," O'Connor told the crowd of academics and gaming professionals.

Now in its fifth year, the Games For Change conference is hosted by Parsons The New School For Design and is dedicated to exploring the development of videogames that deal with social issues.

"Of the three branches of government, the one that's least understood is the judiciary," said former U.S. Senator and current New School President Bob Kerrey, introducing O'Connor.

O'Connor said that the No Child Left Behind act of 2001 has "effectively squeezed out civics education" from public schools. "We can't forget that the primary purpose of public schools

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