ExTEnDED LEARning OPTiOns
Getting field exPeRience in
high school can give you a head start
on a career in law, Public Safety,
corrections & Security.
Go O n Patrol
R
ishanda Johnson, a senior in Johnson watched police officers write be a patrol officer, firefighter, emergency
Estacado High School in Lubbock, reports and paralegals develop cases. She medical technician, or lawyer, such
always wanted to be a nurse—that attended lectures at the Texas Tech School programs can give you firsthand experience
is, until she followed a personal interest of Law and reported to her fellow students in Law, Public Safety, Corrections &
in law into Estacado’s Justice and Law at Estacado. Security starting as early as the eighth
Magnet Program. “I even met the law school dean,” she grade.
The program combines in-class training says. “Because I went to Texas Tech and For more than 30 years, for example, the
in legal principles and procedures with then shared the information with other Houston Bar Association has sponsored
experience working in legal settings. students, I know about the university. I’m mock trials carried out by junior high
Estacado students rotate through the no longer worried about studying law or students in real courtrooms. More than
U.S. Marshal’s office, the Lubbock Police going to college. I know I can learn this.” 38,000 students have participated in the
Academy, and the District Attorney’s program since it started three
office, observing real decades ago.
professionals on Kay Sim, the bar association’s
the job.
THere are more THan 85,000
executive director, says area
law enforcemenT and correcTIons law students visit participating
personnel In more THan 2,700 law
eighth-grade classes once a week
for five weeks, preparing students
enforcemenT agencIes and
for the mock trials. “Every class
InsTITuTIons across Texas. creates its own crime situation,”
Sim says.
Different students serve as judge,
firsthand Experience court clerk, and bailiff. “Real judges let us
Opportunities for this use their courtrooms,” Sim says. “It’s not
kind of extended a scripted thing that we hand them. Every
learning experience are student in the class plays a role.”
available in a variety
of schools across Experienced instructors
Texas. Extended Criminal justice programs in Texas high
learning refers to schools typically work hard to extend
out-of-class learning learning beyond the walls of the classroom.
experiences such Since the instructors have a background
as job shadowing, in criminal justice, students are getting
internships, and career firsthand information. Teachers invite
and technical student guest speakers from the FBI and local
organizations (CTSOs) sheriffs’ departments into the classroom,
that complement in-class and they take students out to department
studies. Whether you want to practice fields.
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