Humanities

Year 11 Legal Studies Excursion – County Court

On 4 March 2020, Year 11 Legal Studies students visited the Magistrates’ and County Courts of Victoria. Having studied our legal foundations earlier in the term and now in the midst of learning all about our criminal justice system, we were keen to see the courts in action! After a small delay passing through security due to scissors and other items in certain school bags, our first stop was the Magistrates’ Court.

The busiest of the courts, amid the hustle-bustle of accused persons, family members, court networkers, security, witnesses and legal practitioners, we saw some bail applications and hearings of more minor offences, including the theft of a hair straightener! In comparison, the County Court was much more formal and serious.

A Tipstaff escorted us into an empty courtroom, where we could observe the layout and be briefed on the necessary etiquette. We were then introduced to His Honour Judge Michael Tinney, who descended from the bench to talk candidly with us. His Honour was generous with his time, discussing his views on everything from the efficacy of the jury system to his decision to not wear a wig as it felt a like a ferret on his head! He kindly answered questions that students had carefully prepared in class beforehand, until our time ran out.

Students presented the Judge, his Associate and the Tipstaff with the gift of South Oakleigh College “showbags” complete with stress ball and insulated coffee mug to help them with their challenging and important jobs. The Tipstaff in particular was flabbergasted, stating that never in all his time at the court had he been presented with a gift by school students. He then escorted us to another courtroom to see a real trial in progress. Notwithstanding the very serious nature of the charges (conspiracy to pervert the course of justice), Judge Stuart stopped his trial to welcome us and explain the nature of the case to us – truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

He then ordered the jury back in and the trial recommenced, complete with the three co-accused sitting behind us in the dock, and interpreters hard at work for both the accused and the witness in the box. Now we’ve seen the system in action, our learning is no longer theoretical – all the students had a lot to say the following day in class! There are high expectations for what lies ahead…

Ms Jacinta Marlborough

Legal Studies teacher

Jewish Holocaust Centre Excursion

On Thursday the 12th of March our Year 10 History students, Mr Columbus and myself travelled to the Jewish Holocaust Centre in Elsternwick.

We started the day with an introductory video and discussion with staff members from the centre. Our students were polite, engaged and enthusiastic. They keenly participated in discussions with the staff from the JHC.

We then ventured on a guided tour of the Centre, which really hit home for our students. This is when the significant event in history became more than what they read about, and became very real. Some tears were shed, and hugs shared.

After going around the JHC, we were called into an auditorium to watch a video about a Holocaust survivor named John Lamovie. Students were then given the opportunity to ask John questions about his experience of the Holocaust. Due to the age of the remaining survivors, our current students are the last generation who will be able to speak with them. Understanding the significance of this, our students asked some very well thought out questions. Lam Ha asked John how he felt towards Germans after World War 2. John stated that he still held anger towards “the leaders at the time and the [adults] who let it happen, but not the children and not their grandchildren and great grandchildren”. He suggested that hating people “five generations later”, people who did not commit the crimes, would be pointless.

A staff member from the Centre, Sue Hampel, gave the students a very powerful talk about the importance of the words they use, including the words they use with their friends and towards their parents. She said something that resonated in our minds for the rest of the day:

“The holocaust didn’t start with gas chambers, it started with words. Your words matter.”

One of our students, Mehak Dhingra, along with Miss Crespo, went with John to the JHC’s Memorial Room where Mehak lit a candle in memory for those who died during the Holocaust. The students left some lovely written messages for John and the staff as we parted the Centre.

We ended the day at Classic Cinemas and watched ‘Nicky’s Family’, a documentary about Nicholas Winton, an English stockbroker who risked everything to save 669 children who would have been sent to concentration camps. It is a tale about the power of good and the ripple effect that doing good deeds can have.

It was poignant day for those of us who visited the Jewish Holocaust Centre. Many lessons were learned, not just for school, but for life.

Sarah Crespo-Liu

Humanities Teacher