Collegeville 8th Graders Participate In Mock DUI Trial

Submitted to Patch by Sierra Rix

COLLEGEVILLE, PA -- Long before they can get behind the wheel of a car, local home schooled eighth graders are facing the ramifications of reckless driving. Classical Conversations Challenge students from Chester and Montgomery counties, including Pottstown, Spring City, Wayne, Penn Valley, Collegeville, Coatesville, and Reading, are playing the roles of attorneys and witnesses in a civil case case at the Historic Chester County Courthouse in West Chester, PA. Presiding over the case will be the Honorable William P. Mahon, while the jury is formed of local attorneys who will score the students performances.

“May it please the court,” is how Penn Valley teen, Gwen Rix, will begin her closing statement as Defendant's Attorney. “It’s a civil case, so we aren’t the defense attorney,” she says, referencing herself and co-counsel, Sophia Hubbard, of Wayne. “That’s one of the distinctions we learned. We studied the language used in civil vs. criminal cases as well as the laws that apply to our case.”

On the challenges of mock trial, “The closing statement is the hardest part for me, but the most fun. I can get emotional as I present the conclusions that should be drawn from our evidence and witnesses’ testimonies. Fitting in all the information can be really challenging because there are time limits, and you don’t know what the opposing side's witnesses will say. You prep your witnesses and prepare the best you can.” Sierra Rix, Gwen’s mother appreciates, “They’ve learned something about their civic duty, and that’s important as citizen and future voter.”

Rhonda Mowday, who has been working with the Classical Conversations Challenge program for the last six years, sees value in the life and academic skills mock trial participation imparts. “They learn to take personal responsibility for their roles and how they prepare for them. They are learning to speak clearly and concisely and tell a story through a series of questions.” And, she adds,” Developing the skill to digest a large amount of information and distill it down - outlining - is something they will use to make many of their upcoming adult decisions!” Presenting a civil case vs. a criminal case comes with its own set of challenges for the kids. Again, Mowday, “It's not so clear as to who is responsible for what happened and can be more challenging than a murder case when it is clear what happened.”

The public is encouraged to attend Parker VS Calhoun at the Historic Chester County Courthouse on April 26th, 2017 at 6:30 pm.

Patch file photo