Humanities

Last Term, the Humanities department held the inaugural Humanities Week at St. Johns. A particular highlight was Mr Swan's and the Year 11 Legal Studies students' Year 11 mock trial. I asked Alana Ansell (AQ1) and Nardos Bachu (MO4) to discuss the process and experience of this unique event.

"The year 11 Legal class was first introduced to the idea of hosting the mock trial in the first few weeks of August. Our initial reactions were that it was unimaginable and would likely not take place. As the days were drawing nearer, it started to feel surreal: St Johns would host its first-ever mock trial.

It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for us students to roleplay and get a feel for what it feels like to be present in Court and what happens during Court to execute a fair and unbiased trial in favour of both parties. The students prepared by first establishing roles for everyone, then we had to learn a bit about the roles we were taking on, gaining knowledge about certain phrases or actions we must follow. A significant thing I learnt is how, despite having a strong or weak case, whether the accused is found guilty or innocent solely depends on the jury and their unanimous decision. Overall, the mock trial was amazing and should become an annual event during humanities week for years to come!" (Nardos Bachu, 11 MO4).

"The trial was investigating a murder, discussing whether it was an accident or much more sinister. We began the process by assigning roles, and I was given the role of the judge's associate. My role involved handing documents to the judge or inviting the accused inside. During the preparation, we learned about how trials unfold in more detail, and it felt very professional. The highlight of my experience was when we performed it during lunchtime. It felt great knowing that people were interested in our trial and came to watch us display our hard work. Overall, it was an amazing experience to be a part of a mock trial and witness how the process works." (Alana Ansell, 11 AQ1)

Finally, on behalf of the Humanities faculty, I wish the Year 12 students the best of luck for their final examinations. The College is incredibly proud of your achievements.

Mr Patrick O'Connell