Beaver Area High School offers two government and politics class options for students. In these classes, Mock Trial and AP US Government and Politics, peers took an exciting field trip to the Beaver County Courthouse.

Teachers Mr. Inge and Mrs. O’Rorke accompanied their students on this judicial endeavor November 1.

The students and teachers began their day by walking across town from the high school to the courthouse. They then were allowed to sit in on various oral arguments to the Superior Court of Pennsylvania.

This is a major step in the appeals process, and it also rarely comes to our area, which means it is a huge honor and opportunity to partake in. The students watched civil and criminal cases argued, which ranged from child custody to attempted murder, so they experienced a variety of types of cases.

Senior Elizabeth Laughlin said, “As a three-year Mock Trial Team member and an AP [US Government and Politics] student, I felt this was a very enlightening experience! It was super cool to watch such a special part of the appeals process.”

These types of field trips remain so important, as students should learn as much as they can about our government branches and systems.

Mrs. O’Rorke shared, “It was a unique and valuable experience, and it was a great opportunity for our students to see the complexity of the judicial process.”

The whole trip proved to be an educational and exciting experience!