The older children have been learning about the three branches of government. At the end of the year we went on three field trips to observe the legislative, judicial and executive branches in action. The City of Syracuse was amazingly hospitable and willing to enrich the learning of our students.

On May 5 we took the children in our Government class down t City Hall to learn more about our city’s legislative branch. Khalid Bey did an amazing job of answering all our questions. He was smart, gracious and funny. After the children asked all the pre-prepared questions (17 of them!) they had many more. Jonas asked Khalid Bey, “What do you think of building a new Ed Smith school on Barry Park?” Khalid responded that he needed more information on the subject and to take a city park for such a purpose is a hard thing to do. Also he told them that Mayor Miner has to approve the measure before the council can weigh in and vote. And then the discussion focused on the users of the park, and who needs to be notified and their opinions counted. My students also asked if Councilor Bey supported gay marriage, protecting historical buildings and whether you can have chickens in the city!

On May 29th, the older students at The New School visited the Syracuse Justice Center to get an up close and personal view of Syracuse’s judicial system at work. Thanks to Debra Payne we had the most amazing opportunity to meet and watch Judge John Brunetti in action. After being ushered into his courtroom, the children were told to sit in the jury box! In between a break in hearing updates of a number of cases, the judge came down and stood before my class and asked them “What do you want to know!” Well, did they ask questions! Great questions. Before leaving his courtroom he told the class that he had never had such a young, and well-informed group of students in his courtroom! After that we went to learn about the jury system from Commissioner Sid Oglesby and again our students were amazing with their insight and knowledge. When a student asked if there was a different process for assigning people to a Grand Jury or a Trial Jury, Commissioner Oglesby asked, “Do you know the difference between a Grand Jury and a Trial Jury?” “Yes he answered.” The week before Ben and Greer’s mother, Charlotte, had visited the school to share her recent experience of being on a Grand Jury.

On June 4th, the older students went on their final “Government” field trip to learn about Syracuse’s Executive Branch. Thanks to Alexander Marion, we were invited into Mayor Stephanie Miner’s conference room where the children spent 45 minutes asking her questions. The children were so impressed by Syracuse’s first woman mayor, and by her conference room chairs! Then she took us into her office andoffered to have her picture taken with each and every student sitting at her desk! After being ushered out Mayor Miner’s “secret” second door Alexander gave us a tour of the building, climbing 4 four floors, learning about the history of the building every step of the way!