mini-lesson on classroom courtroom (5-12

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Academy Curricular Exchange
Columbia Education Center
Social Studies

Rita Irene Esparza, St. Joseph, Sacramento, CA

YOUR OWN CLASSROOM COURT

Appropriate for grades 5-12.

OVERVIEW: This activity is meant for teachers who would like to
allow their students to have a more active role in setting
classroom rules, in decision-making, and as a means of settling
differences.

PURPOSE: To allow students the opportunity to further their
knowledge of the law and its legal proceedings. To experience
"trial by a jury of your peers" in simple matters. To give each
student a job in the courtroom and to vary these positions
throughout the year.

OBJECTIVES: Student will be able to explain and identify the
names of jobs available in a typical courtroom.

ACTIVITIES: In order for the classroom court to work, you, the
teacher must keep in mind that you are the one who is responsible
for the class. You must clearly decide how much weight you want
the court to have. One way to help you decide is to talk to one
of your fellow teachers or your principal.

As a class, decide on appropriate sentences for guilty verdicts.
Again, you must be the voice of reason. After you have agreed
upon the sentences, post them in the classroom so that everyone
can refer to them.

Next you will need to define the offices of the court and the
length of office. Some possibilities for jobs are: Judges, jury,
bailiff, court reporter, defense attorney, prosecuting attorney,
and substitutes. It is necessary to have substitutes to take the
place of an officer who might be absent on court day.

It might be a very good idea to present your courtroom to the
parents in a letter or at open house. Ask for their input, maybe
some of them could be good resource people. Try to present this
as close to the beginning of a court session as possible. Keep
your administration informed as to what you are doing. After you
feel comfortable with the model ask them to sit in on a case.

Hold nominations for positions. Decide on an appropriate number
of names for each position. Draw up a very simple ballot and have
a secret ballot. This might be a way a parent could help out in
the classroom or you may wish to count them yourself. Stress that
just because you weren't picked this time you will have other
chances throughout the year.

Have a very simple "swearing-in" ceremony for all court officials.
Set a particular day for holding court. Perhaps you might like it
every Wednesday afternoon or every Friday morning. But do set a
specific time as the students will begin to prepare their cases
and need to know when to be ready with their information. You
will probably like to go through a few Mock Trials first to give
the class a taste of what is to come.

After each court case evaluate students' performance. The first
couple of times you may wish to do this with the whole class as
your listeners. If you are really energetic, you can give written
feedback to each of the officers, after each case.

Be sure that the court sentences agreed upon by the class are
followed. Set a time limit when the sentences must be served.
Your curt report will have to document everything. This will be
the main source of information regarding each case. The court
records must remain in school. You may wish to lock them up so
they are kept in a safe place. That way if someone is absent, you
will still have the information necessary to proceed.

RESOURCES/MATERIALS NEEDED: No special resources are needed.

TYING IT ALL TOGETHER:

1. Ask the student how they feel the court is going. Try to do
this at least once a month. Don't be afraid to admit
something isn't working. The students may have some very
creative ways to improve the proceedings.

2. What do you as the teacher perceive to be the greatest
component of the court? What is the greatest weakness? How
will you work on maintaining the good while also working on
trying to correct the weaknesses?

3. Did you accomplish your goals? Was the experience fun? What
would you change in the future? What might be some of your
recommendations to others setting up their classroom
courthouse?