In order to enrich the experience of the FC civics students, teacher, Robert Foshee, took two classes downtown to visit the Fresno County Courthouse, Nov. 13. Students were taken from their 5th period class and departed from the campus at around 8:30 a.m.
The classes arrived at the courthouse around 9 a.m. All students had to pass through security, which required them to remove any metal from their person and pass through a detector. Once through, students walked up seven flights of stairs to reach the courts they were scheduled to observe.
In light of the recent Mock Trial in the civics classes, the field trip was designed to show students how actual court proceedings are handled.
Foshee explains that a hands on experience provides a better perspective of the real world than listening to a lecture about it in a classroom.
“I did it because it’s a lot easier to see what’s going on in the real world,” Foshee said. “So if you go to the court rooms you get to see the layout of the courtroom and how it actually works.”
As students walked into the first courtroom, the proceedings had already gone underway. Everyone had to remain silent and keep their phones out of sight and completely silenced. If this law was violated a fine could be administered and the phone could be taken for an indefinite amount of time.
I did it because it’s a lot easier to see what’s going on in the real world. So if you go to the court rooms you get to see the layout of the courtroom and how it actually works. –Robert Foshee
After listening to the deliberations for an hour, the bailiff told the students they may listen to a different case occurring a few doors down. The students were split about in half, with one group staying behind with Foshee and the other leaving with Don Rojeski.
Junior, Emily Gonzales, began to doze off during the court case. She did not feel it was worth the time to get there.
“The court case was too long and tedious,” Gonzales said. “I could barely keep my eyes open trying to focus on the case. It was a domestic violence case, but nothing interesting happened; the case didn’t even get started. I wouldn’t recommend visiting the court house to other people.”
The civics classes departed the Courthouse around 11 a.m. and arrived back at campus by 11:30 a.m.
Although the students did not get to participate in the court proceedings as they were allowed to last year, observing the court proceedings gave students a different perspective on how to conduct themselves during a trial. It was made abundantly clear that the law and how it is administered is no laughing or joking matter.
Senior Nick Fontes said he enjoyed his first trip to the court house. He believes it has helped him learn more about how our government systems works.
“Going to the court house was a great experience,” Fontes says. “It’s one thing to learn about how the system works inside a classroom, but another to see it in action. I am really glad I got to go. Seeing how it’s my senior year I’m always looking to go on field trips. This one has been one of my favorites so far this year.”
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For more features, read the Nov. 13 article, Humble beginnings inspire sweet success.
