Students think like Sherlock Holmes
Ms. Katz stands before the projector screen and gives students instructions on how presentations for the innocence project should go about. “Students should take this class next year because it’s a lot of fun. Students also come to understand the why behind the crimes. Even though television shows are fun to watch it doesn’t answer the why and its not the real world. So, students can discover for themselves if they're interested in real forensics and not television forensics,” Ms. Katz said. Forensic science can be the opening to actual careers, such as criminal investigation and science in law.
by Jasmine Tejada, staff reporter
“Students should take this class next year because it’s a lot of fun. Students also come to understand the why behind the crimes. Even though television shows are fun to watch it doesn’t answer the why and its not the real world. So, students can discover for themselves if they’re interested in real forensics and not television forensics,” Ms. Katz said.
Forensic science can be the opening to actual careers, such as criminal investigation and science in law.
Trace the yellow tape up the steps, pass the “DO NOT CROSS” in bold letters, and find traces of blood that the forensic technician left behind during the investigation.
High school students are offered forensics, an elective, taught by Dr. Baribault and Ms. Katz.
“Students are learning how to analyze evidence and make observations and not inferences,” Ms. Katz said.
Currently, students in Ms. Katz’s class are presenting their innocence projects.
According to the innocenceproject.org, the objective of the assignment is to shed light on cases where people were convicted unlawfully. After several years in prison, people can now rely on forensic science investigation, like DNA, to prove their innocence.
“First we had to do research on innocence project.org, gather facts, create a 12 slides presentation, and a one page research paper,” senior Tamia Avery said.
The class is an engaging learning experience and an opportunity for students to discover if they’re interested in forensics as a career.
“Students should take the class next year because it’s a lot of fun. You get to study and learn the things that happen at a crime scene,” senior Kara Siegel said.
If juniors are interested in forensic next year, they should ask the guidance counselor, Mr. Lumetta, at the end of this school year.