Hyde's two signature senior classes have always been English 12 and Government. This year, students seeking Honors in these classes met weekly outside class to explore their intellectual best as they grappled with the material.
This week, nine students defended their theses before a panel of local lawyers, retired professors, and faculty members. Their hard work was a result of a yearlong process.
The aim was for each “to develop and defend a position arguing for the exclusion, modification, or replacement of an amendment in the Bill of Rights.”
Exclusion asked students to argue for “why a selected amendment should be removed entirely from the constitution.”
Modification asked students to propose that “an amendment should be reworded or restructured to better serve modern society.”
Replacement asked students to make a “proposal for an entirely new amendment to replace the original, addressing similar concerns yet in a more effective manner.”
The final position paper had to include a strong thesis and address the original intent and historical circumstances at the time of the amendment's adoption. Students were then asked to analyze how the amendment has been interpreted and applied throughout American history, including relevant Supreme Court cases. They also needed to include consideration of the amendment's effectiveness and relevance in today's society, identifying problems or shortcomings. Only after all this groundwork did students craft their proposals.
As Government teacher and Associate Head, Rich Truluck said, "I am excited about the work these students have done throughout this rigorous three-term journey culminating in a formal thesis defense before a faculty committee. They have explored the Bill of Rights in depth, focusing on its relevance and application in contemporary society. The students have certainly demonstrated a comprehensive historical knowledge as well as critical thinking skills."
Well done, students!
Laura D. Gauld '76