VALDOSTA, Ga. — On Friday, April 20, seventeen Challenge B students from Classical Conversations’ Moultrie and Valdosta campuses met in the courtroom of Lowndes County State Court Judge John K. Edwards and competed in a mock trial.

The two classes of eighth graders assumed roles in a capital murder case and their performances were assessed by a four-person jury and Judge Edwards, according to Melanie Johnson, Challenge B director for Moultrie’s Classical Conversations home-schooling group.

“During the 2.5-hour competition, students played the roles of attorneys, the accused, witnesses, and bailiff,” Johnson said. “Each team had the opportunity to argue both sides of the criminal case during the two-round competition, providing each student with a unique opportunity to practice the rhetorical skills that are the centerpiece of a classical education.”

In Round 1, Valdosta took the side of the prosecution. The state’s attorneys were played by Tyler Lamon, Audra Williams, Susanna Lawrence, and Eliza Bennett. Their witnesses were played by Emmy Simpson (coroner Jo May), Shiloh King (police officer C.M. Chaney), and Colter Leasure (butler Lee Porter).

Moultrie’s defense team was led by their attorneys, played by Quinn Johnson, Justice Myrick, Austin Parish, and Spencer Revels. Playing the role of the accused, Barbara Barrett, was Mary Powell, and the role of psychologist Dana McGuire was played by Abby Hall. Ethan Tompkins served as bailiff.

In Round 2, the prosecution was represented by Moultrie. Attorneys were Abby Hall, Justice Myrick, Abby Powers, and Ethan Tompkins. Ronnie McPherson filled the role of C.M. Chaney; Austin Parish was Joe May; and Spencer Revels was Lee Porter.

Valdosta’s defense team was led by their attorneys, Tyler Lamon, Susanna Lawrence, Shiloh King, and Colter Leasure. Eliza Bennett played the role of defendant Barbara Barrett, and James Stalvey was Dan McGuire. Emmy Simpson served as bailiff.

At the end of the trial, Edwards complimented each team and praised the students’ hard work. He delivered verdicts for the Prosecution in Round 1 and the Defense in Round 2, both of which were represented by the Valdosta team.

Tiffany Martin, the trial administrator, was responsible for tallying the scores of the jurors and she followed Judge Edwards by announcing the combined juror scores: Round 1 went to Moultrie with a score of 92-80, and Round 2 went to Valdosta with a score of 89-85. Total points were 177 for Moultrie and 169 for Valdosta.

Serving as jurors were Katie Bearden, Carrie David, Carrie Eager, and David Dennis. Proctors were Ann Brady and Mary Grace Powers.

Across the United States, Classical Conversations communities exist to complement parents’ home-centered education and connect them with like-minded families, Johnson explained in an email. Each community is facilitated by a trained parent-director, and classes are led by trained parent-tutors who model the classical tools of learning. Tutors have the privilege of encouraging students toward becoming lifelong learners while also encouraging parents in the classical teaching of their children.

“In the middle and high school years, students hone their dialectic and rhetoric skills in Challenge communities,” she said. “As students move into CC’s Challenge program and work toward becoming independent learners, they read, discuss, debate, analyze, and write about award-winning literature—always within the framework of history and a Biblical worldview.”

If you would like more information about the Classical Conversations programs available in Moultrie, please visit their website at ccmoultrie.com. If you would like more information about the Challenge B program, typically for students ages 12-14, please contact Director Chris McPherson at (229) 429-6720.