23 Mar
Discovering Justice brought the wisdom and experience of federal and state judges into more than 200 K-12 classrooms during Massachusettsâ Third Annual Civics Learning Week.
During the âZoom with a Judgeâ events held the first week of March, elementary students learned about the justice system and the role of a judge through an interactive game, thought critically about a hypothetical case where they had to decide what justice would look like, and got their questions answered by the judges.
Judge Paige Kelley, Judge Donald Cabell, Judge Julie Bernard, and Justice Diana Maldonado spoke with the more than 3,000 students in K-5 and middle and high school students learned about the importance of juries in our justice system with Judge Denise Casper and Judge William Hadley.
âMy students were fascinated by the judges asking and answering their questions,â said Linda Leiker, a Special Education Teacher in New Bedford Public Schools who connected her class to the 45-minute Zoom session.
The events were part of the annual Massachusetts Civics Learning Week which ran from March 6 to March 10. The weekâs series of virtual and in-person events helped build broader awareness of and support for civic learning; amplified and celebrated youth voices; and empowered participants to envision themselves as change-makers in our democracy.
âZoom with a Judgeâ is an example of the interactive and engaging discussions about justice that Discovering Justice brings to our youngest learners. Our Children Discovering Justice Program is a unique elementary curriculum that helps students in Grades K-3 explore the ideals of fairness and justice in their own lives and their community. Discovering Justiceâs Field Trips also provide experiential learning for first grade to college students at the Moakley Courthouse. Visit the Discovery Justice website to learn more about our unique civic education programming.