Andrews Middle students participate in mock trial

    Murphy – Andrews Middle School students studying seventh-grade language arts and social studies participated in a mock trial based on the book The Outsiders, which was written by teenager S.E. Hinton and published in 1967.
    “The purpose was for them to analyze the characters, understand the plot and question motives,” said their teacher, Kendra Gibson. “We learned about the court system, while we learned about the book.”
    Gibson, who has been teaching for about eight years, borrowed the idea from fellow educator Tonia Forrister. The group of 70 students began reading the book following the Christmas holiday break and started preparing for the mock trial soon after.
    The Outsiders is a novel revolving around a conflict between two rival gangs divided by socioeconomic status. During a confrontation between the two groups, a character named Johnny Cade stabs and kills a rival named Bob Sheldon. The mock trial on March 2 at the Cherokee County Courthouse revolved around Sheldon’s death.
    “Some of the kids had to study the characters to be witnesses. One class were the defense team, and another class were the prosecutors,” Gibson said. “Johnny was found not guilty.”
    The mock trial jury was composed of students’ relatives, teachers and other school employees. This was the first time Andrews Middle students participated in a mock trial, and Gibson has plans for more in the future.
    “I definitely plan to do it again next year,” she said.