Patriot High School’s Public Services pathway thrives on hands-on activity. The two courses feature a wide range of lessons that simulate actual police work to prepare students for careers in law enforcement.
“Rather than show them a video,” said Jason Horton, teacher, “they actually get to do it.”
One popular unit in Mr. Horton’s Crime Scene Investigation (CSI) class is forensic archeology, meaning the recovery of human remains that were buried to hide a crime. For this exercise, Mr. Horton leads students to a dirt lot on Patriot’s campus where "gravesites" containing fake human bones await excavation. Students are divided into groups and each group is assigned to one of the sites.
Mr. Horton deliberately places students with classmates they do not normally work with in order to strengthen their communication and collaboration skills. In a team of six, each student has a different task, whether it’s shoveling or sifting dirt; or brushing or photographing bones once they are uncovered. As a group, the students must decide how they will successfully complete the excavation so that all evidence is properly preserved.
“When we walk away from an exercise like this, [students are] able to actually say, ‘not only do I understand the concepts, but I know how to do the activity myself,’” said Mr. Horton.
Other CSI lessons include fingerprinting, blood analysis, and footprint and tire track examination. The pathway’s introductory course, Law Enforcement, has a lecture focus, but there are many opportunities for hands-on instruction as well. Students perform drills, drag a person-sized dummy, and climb over a wall as though they are in pursuit of a suspect. These exercises are lifted directly from police training.
“The CSI and law enforcement classes were probably my favorite classes throughout my entire high school career,” said Miles Salvador, a former student who appreciated Mr. Horton’s law enforcement background. Added Miles, “I know [the lessons are] coming from a primary source. He’s seen things, he’s done things, he’s been through the whole thing.”
Hermione Alanis, a current student, enrolled in the pathway because she wants to pursue a career in law enforcement. “I want to do something to help people around my community,” she said. “I’m very thankful [for this pathway] because I get an insight [into] what I might want to do in the future.”
Though the pathway’s primary goal is to prepare students for a career, students also benefit from the opportunity to improve their public speaking and teamwork skills through presentations and group work, as well as develop responsibility and professionalism. “[Mr. Horton is] teaching us qualities…to become a better person while working in a professional environment,” said Hermione.
Mr. Horton’s dedication to his students’ success, no matter their goals, leaves a lasting impact. “He really does care for his students,” said Naseem, a former student who appreciated Mr. Horton’s steady encouragement throughout the school year. Naseem’s classmate, Samantha Herrera, added, “He’s really passionate about police work and we see that in the way he teaches us.”
