News Archive
Educating for Life
“Peace, Order, and Good Government” up close
A quick scan of news headlines reveals what we all know: our democratic institutions are being challenged like never before. Add citizen apathy, low voter turnout, and political polarization to the mix and you have the makings of a dismal climate for civic engagement and education – so dire, in fact, that a US class-action lawsuit now in federal court accuses the state of Rhode Island of failing to provide students with the skills they need to participate effectively in a democracy.
Not so at Shawnigan, where learning how to become an active, responsible citizen is core to the work of the social studies department, and key to Shawnigan’s approach to providing a well-rounded education that prepares students for life after graduation.
Students in Paul Klassen’s Gr 10 social studies class have been working through their study of government, covering how power and decision-making happens across branches of government, how political parties function, how voting works, and how legislation is proposed, debated and passed. Civic experiences at school give students a chance to practice what they’ve learned in the classroom. Students campaigned, ran school-wide elections, and debated and tabled legislation, all in the run-up to last month’s Shawnigan House of Commons (SHOC).
Not only does SHOC give students a taste of how the system works, it’s also an exercise in civility and respect. “Students are working with people of different views, they are listening respectfully, and they are coming up with ways of solving problems,” says Mr. Klassen. “Those are key skills to building community and to being part of a democracy.”
Students also got a chance to see how government works on a recent field trip to the Provincial legislature. “In terms of seeing how all the pieces fit together, there is something to walking the halls and sitting in on the theatre of question period,” says Mr. Klassen. “It really puts it into perspective for the students, actually being there in this cathedral of democracy.” (As an added thrill for the students, the visiting class was officially introduced in question period by MLA Sonia Furstenau!)
Members of Galen Loiselle’s Law 12 class also had a front-row seat to how Canadian concepts of “peace, order, and good government” play out on the other side of the law – in our court system. The class recently travelled to the Provincial Court in Victoria for an up-close look at raw, real-world justice. In pairs, students quietly navigated the five floors, entering various courtrooms for periods of 15-20 minutes before moving on to a different room.
The bus ride home was filled with students excitedly sharing details from the cases they observed, which covered a wide range of legal issues: child custody, assault, young offenders, breach of contract, resisting arrest, drug trafficking, breaking and entering, theft, and Charter violations.
“Our students were struck by how easy it was to walk in off the street and watch trials, and by how friendly the lawyers and judges were to each other and to participants,” reports Mr. Loiselle. “They were also interested in and noticed that watching the courtroom in action was nothing like TV and movies – people made mistakes and stumbled over their words – they appreciated that this was ‘real deal’.”
Now that they’ve seen the live workings of a courtroom and the various players in it, the Law 12 classes are preparing for their first mock trial. In these simulated trials, students take on the role of a Crown or Defence lawyer, or play the role of a key witness. As a form of experiential learning, mock trials give students an opportunity to deepen their understanding of the law and its role in society, develop advocacy skills, and adopt critical thinking strategies. “All the while, the students are growing in their confidence,” says Mr. Loiselle. “They are learning how to clearly express their ideas, argue effectively and logically, and accurately interpret the written word. Those are tangible skills to take with you as a citizen of the wider world.”
We acknowledge with respect the Coast Salish Peoples on whose traditional lands and waterways we live, learn and play. We are grateful for the opportunity to share in this beautiful region, and we aspire to healthy and respectful relationships with those who have lived on and cared for these lands for millennia.
Shawnigan Lake School is an independent co-educational boarding school for ages 13 –18 on Canada’s beautiful West Coast. Our diverse, interdisciplinary and innovative programming helps shape the next generation of global leaders.
