LIFE

Ohio students put 'Serial' on trial

Anna Jeffries
Gannett Ohio
  • Heath High School students used the podcast "Serial" to hold a mock trial.
  • Using information from the podcast, they put Adnan Syed on trial.
  • The project helped students improve their research skills.

HEATH – A sign taped to the door of the Heath High School library let students know that "Court is in session."

Inside, Clayton Croom and Megan Cuevas waited anxiously, watching the clock as the jury deliberated. But as their eighth-period class came to an end Wednesday, it was clear they would have to wait until school Thursday to hear the verdict.

After listening to the podcast "Serial" in class, their teacher, Bryan Householder, decided they were going to give the man at the center of the story, Adnan Syed, a new trial using information presented in the nonfiction "This American Life" spinoff.

Students in his junior and senior English classes took on the roles of lawyers, witnesses and the accused in the case and spent several weeks preparing. Teachers acted as judges and freshmen English students served as jurors during the three day trial.

Although she was disappointed to have to wait another day to find out, Megan, who took on the role of lead defense attorney in her class, said she truly enjoyed the assignment.

"I forgot about my grade," she said. "I was concerned about winning my case."

Released in October 2014, "Serial" follows Syed's case over the course of 12 episodes. In 1999, he was charged with the murder of his ex-girlfriend, Hae Min Lee, while attending Woodlawn High School in Maryland.

After a mistrial, he was convicted of murder and is serving a life sentence. Radio producer Sarah Koenig went through different aspects of the case in "Serial," interviewing key players and pointing out a lack of facts and evidence.

Householder first listened to the podcast while traveling with his family. Then he found lesson plans based on "Serial" online.

At first, he planned to use the first episode to talk to his students about bias, prejudice and reliable narrators. But the students got hooked and wanted to find out more.

They listened to most of the other episodes in class and he assigned the rest as homework. Then he decided they would take things a step further by putting Syed back on trial.

Householder said he was amazed by how much time and effort the students put into preparing for the project. They came to school early, stayed up late and practiced their testimony until it was perfect. Several students, who usually don't talk in class, got up and spoke to the entire room.

"I think they got more out of it then I intended," he said. "It was easily one of the best things I've done in my 13 years of teaching."

The project was a great way to teach students how to research and put it into their own words without making them write a paper, he said.

"You really can't fake (your knowledge) up there in front of everyone," Householder said.

Preparing for the trial was one of the most strenuous things Heath junior Sarah Brown has ever done in school.

"I worked for hours to make sure that my witnesses were prepared," she said. "It was honestly the most fun thing I've ever done in school. When I was up there talking, it felt like it was my case. It felt real."

Several classes determined Syed was not guilty while others, such as Clayton and Megan's class, had juries that needed more time to deliberate. They will celebrate the completion of the project Friday with a "Serial" party where they will eat their favorite cereals.

Many students said they'll be following Syed's real-life court case closely. The Maryland Court of Special Appeals recently granted his request to reopen his appeal.

Junior Ethan Jenkins, who was the lead prosecutor in his class, said the project was worth all the work it took to prepare for the case.

"We covered the standards, but not in the classic school way," Ethan said. "It was a lot of fun."

ajeffries@newarkadvocate.com

740-328-8544

Twitter: @amsjeffries