Not guilty yet again

I love it when the Lizzie Borden case is used in school to help teach students about society, law, history or theatre. Here is another great example of teachers working hard to inspire their kids to learn about important concepts using cool subjects as context.

From Summer 2004, The Austin News:

Austin Preparatory School students reenacted the trial of Lizzie Borden on April 28, 2004 in celebration of Law Day. The infamous Lizzie Borden was accused, tried, and acquitted of killing her father and stepmother in Fall River during the summer of 1892.

This trial was the culmination of a semester’s worth of work by 65 juniors and seniors enrolled in Law and Sociology classes. The prosecution and the defense relied on factual data and accounts found in William Masterson’s book Lizzie Didn’t Do It!, along with several other sources approved by Austin teachers and program directors Brian Chenery and David Hoffses.

“The students worked very hard to prepare for the trial,” said Chenery. “They even competed for the roles of Lizzie Borden and the defense’s closing attorney.” Students interested in those parts went before their classmates during a free period to answer questions testing their knowledge of the subject. In the end, the young woman who was least riled by the audience won the role of Lizzie Borden, and a confident public speaker earned her part as the defense’s closing attorney.

Austin parent and lawyer, Michael McHugh, served as the judge, while other parents served on the jury. After several hours of court, and some time spent deliberating, the jury found Lizzie not guilty. In the end, Chenery was most pleased with the students’ performance. “They did a tremendous job,” he said. “I enjoy watching the students discover hidden talents in the process of preparing for trial. They learn things about the real world: meeting deadlines, preparing for presentations, and working with a team.”

Here is the complete PDF download of the story.