EVHS students examine Supreme Court cases
Should police be able to use a thermal imaging device to detect an indoor marijuana growing operation?
A court made up of East Valley High School students ruled yes. The actual U.S. Supreme Court found such an action to be an invasion of privacy.
Kyllo vs. United States was one of two cases studied by about 90 students at EVHS in a simulated U.S. Supreme Court experience over the past couple of weeks. Students assumed the roles of justices, attorneys, pro and con advocates and the media.
“It forces them to think beyond their emotions and actually apply the Constitution, such as, what does the Fourth Amendment mean?” said teacher Lori Merkel, who has the students in American Government classes.
For senior Tyler Micek, who had the chief justice role, the Kyllo case was pretty straightforward. “We found with a 7-2 majority that it was not an invasion of privacy or an unwarranted search,” Micek said. “They did not set foot on the property and they did not actually invade his personal being.”
Lamps used to grow marijuana indoors give off a great deal of heat, which police detected in the home of Danny Kyllo using a thermal imaging device.
The Supreme Court opinion said, “We think that obtaining by sense-enhancing technology any information regarding the interior of the home that could not otherwise have been obtained without physical intrusion into a constitutionally protected area … constitutes a search, at least where (as here) the technology in question is not in general public use.”
Student Erin Fredrick, a dissenting EVHS justice, also argued that the police method invaded privacy. “It is enhancing someone’s sight in helping officers look into a home without using the naked eye. That is looking into someone’s property. I think they should get a search warrant.”
Micek said his decision after studying the case was different than his initial opinions. “This gives you a chance to view the Constitution and the processes of the court and laws in this country. You see it’s not black and white. You have to separate your opinion and really look at the facts and the arguments presented.”
The second case studied, Kelo v. New London, Ct., involved homeowners who asked justices to block the city’s use of eminent domain. At issue was whether governments can seize homes and businesses for private economic development. The Supreme Court ruled against the property owners, citing New London’s development plan to revitalize an economically distressed city.
EVHS students, meanwhile, found in favor of property owners.
Student Josh Forward, playing a media role, disagreed with the school court’s ruling but overall said he learned much about the real court’s proceedings.
“I thought the government should be able to take the property. The property owners had just compensation and it was making the town better. I learned how the court works, even though it’s not really the court, it was pretty close.”
CV kids head to championships
The Central Valley School District Able Learner Program entered a team in the “Destination Imagination” regional tournament on March 4 at Centennial Middle School. The team earned a Da Vinci Award for exceptional creativity and won first place in the elementary division for their solution to the “Kidz Rulz” problem.
Team members are Lexxie Womack and Brendan Turner from Opportunity Elementary, Jennifer Loehner, Joseph Hall and Lisa Miller from Ponderosa Elementary, Natalie Riel from Adams Elementary and Shannon Metzger from St. Mary’s School. They are in fourth and fifth grades. Teacher Joan Dunham led the group.
The team will represent Eastern Washington in the state tournament in Wenatchee today.
WV dancers step up
West Valley High School’s dance team under the direction of adviser Jodee Cahalan won top honors for their “Pom” performance at a state competition last Saturday in Yakima.
The 30-member team was one of only three teams in the 3A category who qualified to perform in all three categories.
Freeman FBLA helps kids in crisis
Freeman High School’s Future Business Leaders of America recently teamed up with Red Robin to raise funds for the Vanessa Behan Crisis Nursery through “Burgers With a Heart.” The FBLA chapter raised $1,333 for the nursery which helps provide a safe haven for children at risk of child abuse or neglect.
Freeman beat their previous total of $422 raised last year. Sophomore Kyleigh Kosanke was the top Freeman fund-raiser with $222. Freeman competed against other high schools in a friendly challenge for the highest amount raised. Freeman won the coveted “Spirit with a Heart” traveling trophy, which will be presented on Tuesday.