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Here’s what teachers, attorneys, parents and students are saying about Indiana High School Mock Trial: “Mock Trial is the most critically demanding activity a high school student may undertake. It demands intelligence, creativity, acting skills, hard work, commitment to a team, and dedication. Students are given an opportunity to think, to be authentically challenged. I am proud to have been a teacher coach for these past three years. It is thrilling to participate in an academic organization that demands excellence from high school age students. As Indiana’s program grows and flourishes, we will all see the inherent value and necessity of sustaining this program for our youth. I have already understood its significance in the lives and learning of my own students.” Teacher “Participating in the Mock Trial program was certainly an unforgettable experience. Aside from gaining a better understanding of the federal judicial system and improving public speaking abilities, I was compelled to excel both individually and as a team. Through the intense preparation, I was required to constructively interpret the case and demonstrate the theory in presentation. Mock Trial is an activity that is extremely thought provoking. It forced me to appropriately respond to unexpected situations, creating effective reasoning skills. The dedication and hard work demanded from Mock Trial generated a unique opportunity to develop my intellect.” Student “The mock trial program is an excellent vehicle for encouraging high school students to compete in an intellectual exercise requiring extensive preparation, teamwork, public speaking and the ability to think on their feet and adjusting to changing circumstances. Whether or not they pursue legal careers, these are valuable life skills for all of the participants to develop. Lawyers are involved as coaches, judges and administrators, and have an excellent opportunity to interact not only with the team members and coaches but also the parents and other spectators.” Attorney “Thanks for another great year of mock trial! The students really enjoyed the case this year. I have received so many positive comments from parents about how wonderful the mock trial program is.” Teacher “The competition ran beautifully in all respects. To see the kids grow in their speaking abilities and in their self-confidence over the last several months is very gratifying. While I had a part in helping effect that for 26 kids in our program, your program had a major part in effecting that in several hundred kids' lives. Without your effort, we would have no team and the opportunity to develop an ease in public speaking and other similar life skills would not have been taken.” Attorney “I’d like to take this opportunity to thank you for a marvelous state tournament, not only this year but throughout the six years that I've been involved. As I watched my team perform, I was really impressed by how far we have managed to come over the past six years. The importance of mock trial in building bridges between our school and the legal community, to say nothing of the community at large, can't be estimated. All I can say is that I can see tangible evidence that my students and coaches excelled at what they did and enjoyed every minute of it. No teacher can ask for more.” Teacher “I have received so many compliments from our parents. They are so happy to have their children involved in mock trial. It certainly makes them think on their feet andgives them confidence in public speaking. In the end that is what mock trial is all about - not the scores. Thanks for another year of mock trial. We are looking forward to next year.” Teacher “Mock Trial is responsible for 4 of my best friends and the poise that has gotten me through a lot. The team is still just as close. We're still in touch and I think that says a lot about the program As for competition government, you can take satisfaction in knowing that our loyalty is almost exclusively to Mock Trial. Yes, we loved government, and won state there as well, getting to have a blast in D.C., but when I talk to seniors about the difference in the programs, I know we were only able to win government BECAUSE of the qualities Mock Trial gave us. It put us light years ahead in terms of poise and speaking abilities.” Student “The competition was intense and well-managed.” Teacher “Over the past four years I have had the opportunity to participate in the best extracurricular activity. I would like to thank Indiana High School Mock Trial for this opportunity. It may sound cliché’, but mock trial has indeed changed my life. Some of my fondest memories from high school took place in courtrooms. As my final regional competition approaches, I am very sad. I have and always will, treasure my memories spent in mock trial. I want to thank the Mock Trial Board for this opportunity, for it is truly priceless!” Student “I offer congratulations on another well-run event. The St. Joseph County Courthouse was full of parents and friends of the various participants on Saturday, and there was a wonderful electricity in the air. I continue to be amazed at how hard these kids work at this. The case has served everyone well. There were some wonderful witness performances with these characters, and the attorneys have plenty to work with. Congratulations on that, as well.” Judge “I understand how rewarding you feel this activity is because I am feeling the same thing. To some of the people on our four teams, being on a mock trial team has given them a tremendous boost in self-confidence. To others, being in the group has given them new friends and a "niche" at the high school where they previously had no real niche. Several parents have told us how much their kids have benefited from it. I am beginning to understand what you have known for several years and that is that, independent of the tremendous life skills that the competition teaches, the involvement in the activity helps many young people to grow and think better of themselves. That is what really makes it worthwhile.” Parent
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