By Michael R. Ebert
michael.ebert@newsday.com
A total of 115 students – including 90 from Northport High School and 25 from Central Islip participated in mock trials earlier this month at the Alfonse M. D’Amato U.S. Courthouse in Central Islip. As part of the project, the juniors and seniors debated First Amendment issues in front of two federal judges.
“Meaningful civic education is dependent upon the ability of schools to connect with the community,” said David Scott, project PATCH coordinator for Northport High School, which is part of the First Amendment Schools Network. “Suddenly, the federal courthouse doesn’t seem like a place that’s unattainable to these kids.”
During the simulation, students divided into lawyers and jurors for four cases including Hazelwood School District v. Kuhlmeier, a 1988 free-speech case in which school officials attempted to impose limits on what appeared in a student newspaper.
In addition, students were videotaped by the Annenberg Institute for Civic Education in Pennsylvania, which plans to use the footage to promote legal-education programs.