Working with the Schools

[L Verge]

Surratt House has a forty-year history of giving school tours at the museum; but about five years ago, we began going into the schools (if they can't come to us) to tell the story of the Lincoln assassination - or for younger children - what life was like in the mid-19th century.

Three years ago, we were asked to help develop a section of the fifth grade curriculum based on the role of Mrs. Surratt in the assassination and the issue of guilt or innocence. This evolved from one of our programs on a mock trial.

This past week, we were approached by the Supervisor for Social Studies in the county schools to help develop the legal theme tied to military tribunals vs. civilian courts. This will be used in five of our county's high schools that now have law courses offered as part of the curriculum. This is going to be a tad more difficult. It seems that the U.S. government can't even clearly define whether military courts should be used to try enemy belligerents!

[Gene C]

Maybe you could invite someone from the US Attorney General's office to attend the coarse

[Jill Mitchell]

(08-09-2014 07:31 PM)L Verge Wrote:  This past week, we were approached by the Supervisor for Social Studies in the county schools to help develop the legal theme tied to military tribunals vs. civilian courts. This will be used in five of our county's high schools that now have law courses offered as part of the curriculum.

Fascinating...almost makes me wish I were back in high school! As one whose particular interest in the Lincoln assassination has tended to that legal theme (I'm looking at a stack of books covering this and related topics) I'd be interested in following what develops from this.

[BettyO]

Fascinating, Laurie! And I agree, Jill.

We had a similar course in a law class I took in college.Amongst others, we studied and discussed the assassination trial, the Surratt trial as well as the impeachment trial of Andrew Johnson. It was an interesting course.

[L Verge]

(08-10-2014 10:48 AM)Jill Mitchell Wrote:  

(08-09-2014 07:31 PM)L Verge Wrote:  This past week, we were approached by the Supervisor for Social Studies in the county schools to help develop the legal theme tied to military tribunals vs. civilian courts. This will be used in five of our county's high schools that now have law courses offered as part of the curriculum.

Fascinating...almost makes me wish I were back in high school! As one whose particular interest in the Lincoln assassination has tended to that legal theme (I'm looking at a stack of books covering this and related topics) I'd be interested in following what develops from this.

I am so glad you said that Jill because your name was one that popped into my head when our education coordinator reported back.

Gene, I just met with a gentleman from Georgetown Law regarding the military court, Dr. Mudd, etc. At one point, I made a small reference to our Attorney General (a much nicer comment that I usually make) and was cut short by the lawyer saying that, "I work for the Attorney General." End of conversation.

[Gene C]

That usually means "I disagree with what's going on, but I really need my job (and they're watching me)"