Think back to middle school for a moment. If you were involved
in committing an offense on school property, would you rather go
before a jury of your peers or the assistant principal for
“sentencing?”

That is the question facing offenders of vandalism,
insubordination, littering and displaying poor behavior at public
school events, among other offenses, at Floyd C. Fretz Middle
School.

Will it be Student Court? Or Assistant Principal Brock
Benson?

Most of these are first time offenders who would not naturally
retaliate toward any of their peers handing down the sentence. The
group does not determine whether or not the fellow student is
guilty, but decides the discipline.

“I expect that with the type of kids we have on the court, they
are proud of their school and get mad about people doing any of
those things,” said Ron Smith, social studies teacher and advisor
of the student court.

Dave Emerson, guidance counselor at the school and advisor of
the student court, said Thursday that this is the first school year
the student court has been implemented and only one case has been
heard so far.

“I am proud of the judges – the way they handled the first
hearing,” said Emerson.

He said the incident involved a female student who played a
practical joke that caused a mess in an area of the school as well
as on another student.

Emerson said the discipline handed down by the student court
included a letter of apology to the janitor since he had to clean
up the mess, cleaning the area where the joke was played, and
sitting outside of the cafeteria for one week.

He adds the sentence is approved by Benson before it is actually
handed down.

There are nine judges on the court, but only seven act at a time
when they are needed.

Smith and Emerson describe the court as a very serious group of
students as they witnessed in the first hearing held in
January.

“The defendant was nervous and the judges took it very
seriously. It was like McKean County Court – it was like a real
hearing,” said Smith.

The two said the group takes actions from a script. The
defendant is allowed two character witnesses and to have anyone in
the “courtroom” to support them through the proceedings.

Before any case goes before the student court, parents of the
potential defendant are notified and they have to give permission
for it to occur.

“The kids know that if they don’t follow through, it’s going
back to Benson,” added Smith.

As for the student judges, this is not only a serious council to
be a part of, but also an honor.

“It was fun,” said Lucas McMurtrie, a seventh grader who lives
on Derrick Road. “I felt like I was important in school – not just
another kid.”

Smith added that McMurtrie, whose mother (Susan McMurtrie) is a
teacher at the school, kept his promise of confidentiality even
when she asked about the hearing.

“He said he could not say,” said Smith, smiling proudly.

Codey Yurkewicz, an eighth grader who lives on School Street,
said he is honored to be a member of the student court.

“We’re the top kids. Of hundreds, we were the ones picked,” he
said.

About the new student court system and what it means to the
school, Suzie Sager, an eighth grader of Rutherford Run said, “I
think it’s a good idea because now kids have another option.”

Amber Abers, a seventh grader of West Washington Street, said,
“Kids forgive and teachers don’t. It feels good to be an authority
for once. Knowing we are trusted enough to handle the
situation.”

Smith and Emerson add the experience will also help on college
recommendation letters.

The idea for the program started in meetings between
Superintendent Sandra Romanowski and a student advisory committee
in 2005. Following the discussions, research was conducted and the
program put together.

Emerson said the students even wear robes and have a bailiff in
the sessions.

“The kids were not thrilled (about the robes) but we felt it
lent to the seriousness of the whole process. A necessary part,”
said Emerson.

When the judges make their decisions, he said, they leave the
courtroom and sit with Benson and determine the discipline.

All students interviewed said the deliberations went very well,
that they did not argue, but worked to build on each others
ideas.

There is one other hearing scheduled for later in the school
year.