Boy, is this a breath of fresh air! Not what I expected. Note the politician speaking out of both sides of his mouth.
http://www.sltrib.com/06272000/utah/62352.htm
Gun-Control Issue Is Placed 'On Trial' by Fifth-Graders
BY JESUS LOPEZ JR.
THE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE
SOUTH JORDAN -- The procedures were a little informal at this South Jordan courtroom.
The judge, sporting a black robe, stood at a podium. The bailiff, dressed in shorts, used a one-inch by one-inch Bible to swear in witnesses. The attorneys relied on notes as they nervously cross-examined each witness.
On trial? Allowing concealed weapons at Utah schools, and after a 1 1/2-hour debate that featured witnesses such as Rep. Merrill Cook, R-Utah, and anti-gun control advocate Janalee Tobias, the fifth-grade jury at South Jordan Elementary School delivered a unanimous verdict.
School staff should be allowed to carry firearms, the student jurors said.
For the past seven years, teacher Laurie Erickson has set up courtroom-style debates on hot-button issues at the school, 1350 W. 10400 South. She has found the activity helps keep students engaged as the school year winds down and teaches them about timely issues and courtroom procedures.
"It's something fun for them to do to keep them focused," Erickson said.
Erickson lets students choose the subjects they debate from a list of topics she prepares. Also on the docket this week in her class are debates on draining Lake Powell and chemical testing on animals.
Erickson chose to include gun control this year because of its timeliness in national politics.
For Monday's debate, the class spent two weeks preparing arguments and contacting witnesses to testify in the mock trial.
"We really have some good residents in the community," Erickson said. "I was just happy they agreed to do it."
Tobias, founder of Women Against Gun Control, and Cook both spoke against prohibiting concealed weapons at schools. Tobias said she liked seeing students discuss gun control themselves.
"I think the more important question asked here is what to do if there is guns in schools," Tobias said. "I'm concerned as a mother, I want my kids to be protected.
"It was good to have an opportunity to come and talk about gun control," Tobias said, adding that too often parents use their children as props for gun control.
Cook, who is campaigning for re-election to Congress, testified that although he would not want to see teachers with weapons, he was opposed to denying them rights to carry firearms on school grounds.
Proponents for banning concealed weapons on school grounds included PTA President KaRynn Christensen, South Jordan Elementary Principal Richard Allred and Jeremy DeWall, a sophomore at Bingham High School.
"My position as a mother is against fighting violence with violence," Christensen said. "Who is to say a teacher isn't the one going after students?"
Christensen said it was nice to see what the students thought about the issues.
Mostly, students kept their questions simple, asking simply where each witness stood on gun control.
The courtroom process captured their imaginations more than the topic.
"They taught us what lawyers' jobs are like," said Josh Soffe, 11.
© Copyright 2000, The Salt Lake Tribune
------------------
The New World Order has a Third Reich odor.
[This message has been edited by Oatka (edited June 27, 2000).]
http://www.sltrib.com/06272000/utah/62352.htm
Gun-Control Issue Is Placed 'On Trial' by Fifth-Graders
BY JESUS LOPEZ JR.
THE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE
SOUTH JORDAN -- The procedures were a little informal at this South Jordan courtroom.
The judge, sporting a black robe, stood at a podium. The bailiff, dressed in shorts, used a one-inch by one-inch Bible to swear in witnesses. The attorneys relied on notes as they nervously cross-examined each witness.
On trial? Allowing concealed weapons at Utah schools, and after a 1 1/2-hour debate that featured witnesses such as Rep. Merrill Cook, R-Utah, and anti-gun control advocate Janalee Tobias, the fifth-grade jury at South Jordan Elementary School delivered a unanimous verdict.
School staff should be allowed to carry firearms, the student jurors said.
For the past seven years, teacher Laurie Erickson has set up courtroom-style debates on hot-button issues at the school, 1350 W. 10400 South. She has found the activity helps keep students engaged as the school year winds down and teaches them about timely issues and courtroom procedures.
"It's something fun for them to do to keep them focused," Erickson said.
Erickson lets students choose the subjects they debate from a list of topics she prepares. Also on the docket this week in her class are debates on draining Lake Powell and chemical testing on animals.
Erickson chose to include gun control this year because of its timeliness in national politics.
For Monday's debate, the class spent two weeks preparing arguments and contacting witnesses to testify in the mock trial.
"We really have some good residents in the community," Erickson said. "I was just happy they agreed to do it."
Tobias, founder of Women Against Gun Control, and Cook both spoke against prohibiting concealed weapons at schools. Tobias said she liked seeing students discuss gun control themselves.
"I think the more important question asked here is what to do if there is guns in schools," Tobias said. "I'm concerned as a mother, I want my kids to be protected.
"It was good to have an opportunity to come and talk about gun control," Tobias said, adding that too often parents use their children as props for gun control.
Cook, who is campaigning for re-election to Congress, testified that although he would not want to see teachers with weapons, he was opposed to denying them rights to carry firearms on school grounds.
Proponents for banning concealed weapons on school grounds included PTA President KaRynn Christensen, South Jordan Elementary Principal Richard Allred and Jeremy DeWall, a sophomore at Bingham High School.
"My position as a mother is against fighting violence with violence," Christensen said. "Who is to say a teacher isn't the one going after students?"
Christensen said it was nice to see what the students thought about the issues.
Mostly, students kept their questions simple, asking simply where each witness stood on gun control.
The courtroom process captured their imaginations more than the topic.
"They taught us what lawyers' jobs are like," said Josh Soffe, 11.
© Copyright 2000, The Salt Lake Tribune
------------------
The New World Order has a Third Reich odor.
[This message has been edited by Oatka (edited June 27, 2000).]