As previously discussed, my students and I hosted three classes of elementary students in groups of 150-160 kids at the law school. These second, third, and sixth graders from Kent Gardens Elementary School in McLean, Virginia were hilarious. They sat through a trial of the three little pigs and a class on forensics led by a detective, our own Inspector Jeffrey Braden. We just finished reading the thank you notes from the sixth graders and they are worth sharing.
Here are a few excerpts worth noting [as you will see, the chairs were a big hit]:
“I want to go to law school because the chair are REALLY comfortable.”
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“First of all we were just happy we got a field trip that doesn’t bore us to death!”
“P.S. Thing 1 also came on the field trip. Here is a piece of Thing 1’s hair for Detective Braden to scan. LOL!”
[Note: Pink fuzzy stuff was glued
to represent Thing 1’s hair –which a picture of Thing]
——-
“I was pretty suspicious about the wolf because of his story and how he said it. First of all how can a wolf be friends with a pig? And second of all, when he mentioned that he played Wii, the pig didn’t even mention about that. Also, the wolf said that when he was playing Wii, he was Luigi and that Curly Pig was the princess. Well, in Wii tennis, you can’t be Luigi or the princess.”
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“One part I like was B.B. Wolf brandishing a fork and knife at Curly.”
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“…after the trial I noticed that why would a pig buy a Wii a pig can’t even grab the controller.”
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“I really liked the trip yesterday. During out first presentation with Inspector Braden I was literally almost totally enthralled by what he showed me it was so cool. I really enjoyed the fake trial with the three little pigs. The thing that would have proven him innocent was the Wii. If there had been a Wii then the wolf would have been innocent, if there had not been a Wii then the wolf would have been guilty.”
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“I really enjoyed the mock court trial, though I think that the reason the B.B. Wolf was proven innocent was because everyone thought he was cooler.”
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“I didn’t know that no one was allowed to speak to the jury. That will make a good trivia question for a game show.”
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“I’m jealous of the ones who get in to that awesome place, even though only about 3% of the ones who try out even get in!” [referring to law student getting into GW Law]
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“It really got me interested in law, even though my dads a layer and has already pressured me enough to become one as well. I also enjoyed that we were able to come to your beautiful University and got to sit in those amazing swively chairs”
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“I was interested in what the policeman was talking about and thought that having the pigs come in and take his lunch put a good twist on things. I also loved those chairs we sat in! I was surprised that nobody fiddled around in them, it must have been the amazing powerpoint presentation.”
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“When I seen the permission slip I thought it was just a chance to get out of school, but was I wrong.”
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“I liked that there was a trial about the three little pigs. It felt like I was watching a movie, I was surprised how good the law students were at acting I’m sure they could have a career as actors/actresses.”
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“I really enjoyed how organized everything was, because a lot of times out field trips are complete chaos. I want to become a lawyer (or a chef) and I though that it was really interesting.”
——–
“I think the Wolf was innocent!”
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“Detective Braden has an awesome job. He must really have good eyesight.”
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“I wish I could bring my little brother to court because he always gets me in trouble.”
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“I learned that you could not talk to the Jurors and that you could find a footprint in a flower pot!”
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“I never knew identical twins don’t have the same fingerprints.”
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“I loved the chairs!”
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“Thanks for everything especially for bringing the judge for us (he was cool). Again, thanks a million.”
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“On the witness stand you must be scrupulous…If one is found guilty he must be chastened.”
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“When I entered, it was like entering a fancy hotel lobby.”
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“I got home last night and I found out that my dad had you as a Professor when he was in law school.”
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“The best two things that I like most was the chairs where we were with Inspector Braden, and the cookies. They were off the hook.”
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“I thought/liked the way it was all planned and organized. (Like) there weren’t awkward moments where you (or anyone else) had nothing to say.”
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“The brownies were rather addicting I must say.”
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“I learned many things when I went to George Washington Law School, but you might have already guessed that the highlight of my day was the water, milk, and cookies. You have inspired me, I wanted to do many things in life, but never thought that being a lawyer would be one of them; but now it is.”
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“The three little pigs and the wolf was really interesting, and they are very good actors/actress. It was really funny when you said: “The judge, we are honored to have this judge he is one of the most brilliant master minds in the country” then you went to the bench. I was laughing so hard, that was really funny; maybe I should start using that joke!”
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“This is part of our grade, but that part doesn’t really matter because I had a really fun time and I wanted to let you know…
…P.S. My teacher will get mad if he reads the last paragraph!”
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“My Name is Gillian and I’m 11. I like soccer and I have 2 dogs. One is 4lbs and her name is Peanut. The other is 25lbs and his name is Teddy. They are both lhaso Apso Poodles (mutts). I have blond hair and freckles across my nose. Last I have 2 sisters and 1 brother.”
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“And finally, I liked the milk and cookies because the cookies were actually homemade and there was a large variety to choose from. Also, who doesn’t like milk and cookies?”
“The brownies were rather addicting I must say.”
**********
lol This line was definitely, to use DW’s term, a “proto-Susan.” I can’t resist good brownies. 🙂
Mespo:
I agree with what you said about the training to “think like lawyers,” removing emotion and replacing it with analysis of the situation or case. I also think that given the same books and tools as law students have, people with a real drive to learn about the law process and how it works could have that same kind of training.
The reason I believe it is so important that more people have access to knowledge about the law is the headlines over the last year or more about the occurrence of wrongful convictions — and later exonerations — and the devastating effect they have, on the people wrongly convicted and on the criminal justice system as a whole. The Duke University case in NC was a very near miss of that same kind of tragedy. It was only avoided because the three accused players were able to hire some of the “top guns” of criminal defense expertise. If their parents hadn’t had the funds to hire the lawyers they had, the odds are very high that three more wrongful convictions would have happened.
Sorry, I’m digressing. I just wish everyone who wanted to learn the basics of law, enough to be able to effectively represent themselves in a criminal court if necessary, was able to do so, whether they had the ability to pay or not. I don’t believe that receiving real justice in the criminal courts should be a privilege for the rich only, and right now, it does seem to me that is too often the case.
JT:
She needs an appointment to the Fifth Circuit. I would have agreed with you, but I had the image of one of my kids making that same statement.
Mespo:
Despite the fact that I invariably agree with your well-reasoned views, I must respectfully disagree. My favorite review of the field trip is:
“My Name is Gillian and I’m 11. I like soccer and I have 2 dogs. One is 4lbs and her name is Peanut. The other is 25lbs and his name is Teddy. They are both lhaso Apso Poodles (mutts). I have blond hair and freckles across my nose. Last I have 2 sisters and 1 brother.”
There is something terribly profound in this totally unconnected thought.
My favorite line:”I want to become a lawyer (or a chef) and I thought that it was really interesting.” That really is a proto-mespo.
Susan:
The value of a legal education IMHO is the training to “think like lawyers.” The process compels you to remove all emotion, and simply analyze the situation coolly and dispassionately, using rules gleaned from years of practical application. The basic path is: identification of the issue (usually the hardest part); determination of the applicable rule or law; analysis of the facts in view of the law; and conclusion. By far the least important part is the conclusion since most legal analysis changes over time as circumstances change. I think everyone could benefit from learning how to think this way.
It’s all about the Copyright Infringement – they’ll be back
for the cookies, the milk, the swively chairs AND those addicting
brownies! 🙂
lol Thanks, Jill, I generally have no more than one cup per day, so I don’t think I’m overdoing it. So far, I think that’s my only “vice.” Oh wait, I forgot the occasional indulgence of chocolate. Okay, so that’s two vices. Arrest me. 🙂
Susan,
I think that is a great idea!
Jill
P.S. Quit drinking all that caffine. Your statements always make sense!
JT, thanks so much for sharing this wonderful story, and the kids’ delightful letters. I can certainly understand their being thrilled with the chairs, since the ones they have to sit in every day at their respective schools are usually hard and uncomfortable. From what I remember of chairs as an elementary school kid, they were wood and metal, NOT something a kid enjoys sitting in for a big part of the day!
I wish more people could be exposed to the basic principles of law in the same way you and your team at GW Law School educated these elementary youngsters. And I mean people of all ages, who are interested in learning as much as possible. While not all of them would become lawyers, it might help them get a much better understanding of the law than they have now.
Right now, too many of us don’t have even a remote grasp of how the law works, let alone a complete one. Personally, and others may strongly disagree with me, I think every person should have a basic course of law included in their education somewhere. I honestly don’t see how a basic course in law could hurt anyone.
When do you expect the little darlings to file their appeal?
Milk, cookies and swively chairs in every school!
This was really great. Those kids are awesome!
This one would have made Art Linkletter so proud:
“It really got me interested in law, even though my dads a layer and has already pressured me enough to become one as well.”
Delightful!
After all the sturm und drang of the last few days, this is a welcome re-assurance that our species has some redeeming value!
You can see from the comments above that our cognitive styles are formed fairly early! I saw proto-Pattys, proto-DW’s, proto-Turleys, proto-Mespos,proto-Jays, Proto-Susans, etc. in the munchkin’s thinking and writing.
My proto-DW was comment 29. I will leave my other assignments a secret! 🙂
For the professor, the comment about the dad having been one of your students must have given you a small moment of happiness.