Students look into different options for course selection as counselors work with students for next year. Students gain insight into the life of law enforcement and the history of the law system on campus through the law enforcement pathway, and police Sgt. Juan Flores empathizes the importance of this pathway with his students.
“We talk about the Amendments, and as young adults myself and Mr. Hansen believe that it is not only your right being an American, but learning them and learning how to utilize them benefit you and take care of yourself better,” Flores said. “[They help] better understand the freedom and what we’ve got.”
As well as Amendment knowledge, Flores said students are expected to learn “respect, disciple, understanding and [how to become] a leader of right from wrong.”
Freshman Harper Fink, who’s been interested in law since she was young, said that since the class is open note it’s easy to keep up with, and senior Asyln Byers agreed.
“Sgt. Flores is a pretty sweet guy,” Byers said. “He doesn’t expect us to memorize all of that because he knows it’s a lot. Even all the stuff we’re learning now isn’t everything that you have to learn to become an officer so he’s pretty gracious to us.”
Along with learning about the history of the law, students are also taught through hands-on experience.
“At some point we will be messing around with handcuffs and I know that people have said that in past years you get to learn how to clear a room with a NERF gun,” Byers said. “And having NERF gun wars I’ve got to say [are] a pretty big plus. Great stress relief.”
Law history and hands-on experience assists in helping the kids gain a security guard license. This license helps provide the students with “great experience,” according to Flores, after graduation.
“I am actually looking at going to college for mechanical engineering,” Byers said. “But I’ve thought about going into law enforcement and military so I thought this class would be really good for me.”
Unlike Byers, Fink considers the health science pathway but would like to pursue a job as a lawyer or game warden.
Along with law courses, Flores also teaches forensic science which he said helps “opens your eyes and makes you think outside the box.” This course assists in leading students to better understand the evidence in a case.
“This pathway puts you at a higher level of being a citizen, higher level of being a student,” Flores said. “You become a light on to just keep people safe.”
