Clarendon Hills Middle School Students Put Christopher Columbus on "Mock" Trial

On Friday, September 30, the 7th grade social studies classes of Clarendon Hills Middle School participated in a mock trial featuring Christopher Columbus, who was fictitiously accused of accessory to murder and environmental destruction. Students were challenged to either defend or prosecute the accused Columbus, or serve as a judge or member of the jury, while a classmate portrayed Columbus himself. Teacher Jaimie Guerin explains that the activity is a lesson on the modern legal system and court proceedings and challenges students' writing and oral presentation skills, particularly in creating a persuasive argument. The primary focus, though, is the history of the time and the impact of Columbus' arrival on the indigenous Native Americans. "In some classes, he was found not guilty, while in others, he was convicted on both charges," Guerin notes. "The outcome of the trial is not really the focus of this activity; rather, students are encouraged to look at historical events from multiple points of view and draw conclusions based on various sources and perspectives."