IN THE NEWS: Country School’s courtroom drama a true life lesson
It’s not often that a school promotes kids arguing, loudly objecting to what they hear and passing judgment on each other, but that’s exactly what New Canaan Country School eighth graders are encouraged to do as they partake in mock trials designed to build oratory and thinking skills they’ll likely find useful as adults. (New Canaan Advertiser, Jan. 29, 2015)
Veteran NCCS eighth grade teacher Bart Fredo runs the proceedings, based on William Golding’s classic novel, “Lord of the Flies,” with Head of Upper School Tim Delehaunty serving as presiding judge.
Using the novel’s storyline, Jack Merridew stands trial on a charge of attempting to murder Ralph just before the boys were rescued. Each student assumes the role of a trial participant. Students have five class periods and five evenings to prepare for the trial, which takes place in a large open space at the school. Each eighth grade section has its own trial during two periods.
“I tell the students that the secret to building a case is brick by brick,” said Fredo, who has been teaching eighth graders for 14 years. “I play the bailiff, a broader role, allowing me and Mr. Delehaunty to interact with the students, explaining things when necessary.
“The deliberations can get rather heated, argumentative, with raised voices. The kinds of things adults do in real jury rooms.”
Delehaunty’s role is to ensure that the trial moves along in a legally correct manner.
“The students see and begin to understand that even though they may have built the case brick by brick, they have to respond to what’s in front of them,” he said. “The trials are tremendously helpful for them to improve their research skills, writing skills, collaboration skills and public speaking skills.”
In the proceedings, anyone may use notes, including excerpts from the novel. Each lawyer for the prosecution and the defense is expected to have a printed copy of his or her opening statement, witness questions, or closing argument — which one depends on how the members of each legal team divide the tasks. Witnesses must have a written copy of what they will say when they testify.
All parties in the case must adhere to the facts as presented in the novel but may interpret those facts as they deem appropriate.
“My approach to teaching is to do things like trials to move away from where I do most of the talking and they do most of the listening,” said Fredo. “We try to have kids ‘doing.’ It’s time consuming, but it’s all part of the learning process.”
Students are tested on the facts of the book, but are not graded on the the trial. “I don’t want to grade them on performing,” said Fredo. “It’s about their understanding a process that takes place in the real world. I want them to understand how real decisions are reached in court. To think more completely.”
Delehaunty explained that the trials are just one step in NCCS’s efforts to build strong minds going forward.
“Things like trials and debates are reasons why our kids are successful,” he said. “We’ve found that when they continue their educations, those new schools like our kids, because they’re very composed and are problem solvers.”
New Canaan Country School
New Canaan Country School admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin and are afforded all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, sex, sexual orientation, national origin or ancestry, or disability in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, financial aid policies or any other school-administered programs.
