Page 4 - Law Academic Newsletter 2015

Street Law 3rd Edition
At the gala dinner, legal legend, David McQuoid- Mason, introduced the latest works to the delegates by means of acting out one of the teaching methods he advocates in his book – the spoon game.
The third editions of the celebrated Street Law titles by David McQuoid-Mason were launched at the SALTC conference. Juta gave away several book prizes to lucky delegates who engaged with us on social media.
THE SPOON GAME
The Spoon game helps to show why it is necessary to have laws or rules that include ideas of fairness and certainty and AIM are not retrospective. It also raises problems of discrimination. The game can be easily adapted to meet the needs of the
participants.
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THE HOW?
Delegates were told that they were going to play a game.
Each table was made a group.
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Instruction to delegates:“Play the game!”. Delegates meet David with blank expressions on their faces.
A rule is introduced: One team member is to pass the spoon from his/her right hand to the person on their left.
David stopped the game.“You’re playing the game wrong!”.
New rule: One team member is to pass the spoon from his/ her right hand to their left hand and then to the person on their left only if the person on the left is not wearing a ring.
David then arbitrarily chose a winner.
Debriefing: How did the delegates feel about it? Why did they feel the way they did? What did they learn from it?
David then linked the debriefing results to why society needs
laws to prevent chaos and confusion, why laws should not be retrospective, why laws should not discriminate, that people should have access to impartial courts that apply the rule of law and
that citizens should participate in the lawmaking process.
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