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Teen court mulled in schools
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Posted on Apr 12 1999
Teen courts will be set up this year at respective schools to give students the chance to take part in weighing facts and issues concerning their peers, according to Associate Judge Virginia S. Onerheim, Family Court Division.
“I will bring those concepts to your schools so all of you can understand the judicial process. Since all of you are leaders, we invite you to make sure that your schools are in order,” she said.
Onerheim made this announcement before hundreds of students during the teen symposium over the weekend at the Hyatt.
Although, she did not give its specifics, officials are saying that the creation of the teen court will solicit the cooperation of the Public School System and possible funding from the Criminal Justice Planning Agency.
Onerheim invited students to observe the judicial process in the real court and take an active role in the teen court at the school level.
Officials are also hoping that the presence of the teen court on campus will encourage students to pursue a degree in law and related professions.
With the continued involvement of juvenile in gruesome crimes reported in the CNMI, the teen court may help settle petty disputes among the adolescence before they turn to action and violence.
In the same teen forum, Commissioner of Education Rita H. Inos challenged the leaders of tomorrow to serve the community as best they can with integrity and dignity.
She cited the section in the Alice in Wonderland book where the character was asking for directions but was oblivious to where she was heading to.
“If you don’t focus and set your objectives, then it doesn’t really matter where you are going,” she warned the students. “Let’s make it matter.”
The teen symposium, which was sponsored by the First Lady’s Vision, had a multi-school turn-out of grade 6 to high school students.
