Published on: Thursday, January 26, 2012

By Tauren Dyson

Dozens of Prince George’s County high school students displayed their knowledge of legal issues at the Civics & Law Academy, last Tuesday. Lawyers from around the state of Maryland joined the students at the Oxon Hill Staff Development Center to test students on issues ranging from personal rights to free speech in schools.

The students came from Surrattsville High School, Potomac High School and Central High School and are all enrolled in the practical law class at their respective schools. Beginning last September, the class aims to teach students about practical applications of law from police officers and attorneys.

“The stuff I learn about courts and what the police can, what they cannot do to you, I kind of like it,” said Cikye Beasley, Potomac High School freshman. “That’s why I wanted to come on this trip.”

Learning about illegal search and seizure laws proved useful for Beasley. He said he never had trouble with the law but has friends who’ve endured police searches that he suspects may have been illegal. So the practical law class and his time at the academy serve dual purposes: Learning how to apply his knowledge to real-time legal situations and preparing for a possible career as an attorney.

Many of the other students have no ambitions to work in the legal profession but still demonstrated a strong grasp of legal concepts.

Organizers of the academy divided the event into four topic areas: Law and Justice, Rights and Responsibilities, Power and Empowerment, and Free Speech, School Speech and Protected Speech.

At the Law and Justice session, judges and lawyers posed questions about legal issues and moral concerns that surround them.

Should kids legally be prohibited from congregating in high crime areas or does this infringe on civil rights? Why are conviction sentences doled out to people who commit crimes against animals often harsher than those who commit crimes against people? Why do celebrities avoid jail time when their less famous counterparts are sentenced to much stiffer sentences for the identical offense?

Students passionately weighed the pros and cons of these controversial topics, only occasionally reaching a consensus of opinion. But the session was less about a competition and more about opening up a line of dialogue.

Surrattsville High School freshman Leonard Casimier thought the session provided an open platform for him and the other students to hash out disagreements about disparity in sentencing. In the end, the exchange of ideas was one went well, Casimier said.

“I was able to ask questions,” said Casimier, 14. “I didn’t feel pressured.”

Beverly Peterson teaches the practical law course at Central High School and said the students stand to gain a tremendous amount of legal knowledge during their four years in the course.

“I think this program will help promote civic responsibility,” Peterson said.