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Success despite local obstacles
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Anonymous user Tue Nov 30, 1999 00:00:00 PST
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0 responses 0 comments During March 23 through 25, the Stockdale High School Mock Trial team represented Kern County in Oakland for the 2007 State Mock Trial Finals. Locally, Stockdale High competed against several very tough schools before going to Oakland. Without the high level of local competition, the Stockdale team wouldn’t have been as ready as they were.
This year has been especially difficult for Stockdale’s team because they lost long-time attorney coach Scott Howry, and had to adjust their practice schedule to meet the Kern High School Board of  Trustees and superintendent’s mandate for weekday-only practices.
In the past, Stockdale’s team utilized one school night a week for two hours, and one two-hour block of time on Sunday afternoons. It was a schedule that parents, students, volunteers, and coaches felt was best for everyone. However, without Sunday practices allowed this year, the team spent several nights a week at school.
We didn’t like the fact that we were at school from 7 a.m. until 9 p.m. two to three nights a week.  After a long day at school, evening practices were difficult, and many students had other responsibilities to take care of, such as homework and test preparation.
Sunday practices were always voluntary, as are all extra-curricular activities. If students had family functions, church or any other activity, he or she was not punished or replaced for missing practice. There was flexibility. Requiring students to give up evenings two or three times a week when they have homework and other responsibilities seems far more unreasonable and detrimental than allowing them the option of meeting on their free time — even if it is Sunday afternoon.
After speaking to several coaches at the state competition, I did not find one county that limited the academic success of their mock trial teams by imposing restrictions on their practice schedules.
Stockdale faced high schools  from Placer County, Los Angeles County, Contra Costa County, and Sacramento County — all of whom practiced any and every day of the week to prepare for state. Marin County coaches made a point of telling all of the participants about the Kern High School District’s policy, and congratulated Stockdale on their success regardless of obstacles they faced.
The mock trial experience is something that will continue to have an impact on students long after they leave high school.
Winning fourth place this year was amazing. Stockdale lost their last round to Sacramento County’s Elkgrove High School — who beat Marin County for the state championship this year.
The kids worked so hard to prove they could overcome the district’s attempt to “level the playing field.” Our Sunday practices didn’t give us a special edge — just the flexibility to make the best choice for our students, parents, teachers, and attorney coaches. My students and I believe Stockdale should have the option to say yes — that works for us!

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