The 2015-2016 regional 8th grade Mock Trial teams from Westerville’s four middle schools gathered at City Council Chambers on March 24 to practice for the upcoming competition April 14-22. Serving as judge for the mock trial hearings was teacher and Westerville North High School Mock Trial coach Zach Wilkerson. Westerville Mayor Kathy Cocuzzi was also present.
Middle School Mock Trial cases are written by teams of teachers and lawyers who craft a trial from literature taught in middle school English classes. This program is designed using Ohio’s content standards for social studies and English language arts so that analytical and thinking skills grow and shine when students argue these cases. Judged by panels of attorneys, designed to create school pride and generate learning at the highest possible level, the State Showcase takes place in Columbus at the Supreme Court of Ohio” in April. This year, the Mock Trial case is based on the book The Outsiders, written by S.E. Hinton.
This middle school extra-curricular program is in its 4th year and is led by the students’ advanced social studies teachers with support from the Gifted Education and Social Studies Departments. Special thanks was given to those at the Westerville Clerk of Courts office.
For further information, please visit http://www.oclre.org/middleschoolmocktrial/ .