What In Tarnation?!?!? In the Classroom

So I got jury duty. I am one of the few people that was excited about jury duty. I want to have that experience of being on a jury. This desire has more to do with my fascination with law and the practice of law rather than wanting to sit in judgment of someone.

My particular panel has been called in three times so far. One time we sat there for a couple of hours and then we were dismissed, evidently there were some matters of law to be argued without a jury present. A second time we were dismissed without explanation. The third time however, we actually went into jury selection. Quite exciting. No question asked of the panel required me to answer any questions. I guessed that increased my chances of being selected. Unfortunately, I was number 39 so the jury was selected long before they got to my number. The judge did offer to let us stay and watch the trial, an offer that I didn’t take but I wish I would have stayed.

The excitement of being on jury duty has waned a bit. I soon realized how many sub plans I was going to have to write almost every single week. I don’t know about any other teachers, but it takes me several hours two write and prepare for a sub. Of course with jury duty, there is no promise that those sub plans are going to be used. I don’t mind writing the sub plans but I do mind writing them and not using them. That has become a bit of a pet peeve.

The same day that my panel got to the jury selection process, I was scheduled to have theater night at the St. Louis Rep.  The show that night? Twelve Angry Men. I found that quite ironic. Even though I didn’t get selected to be on the jury earlier that day, I did get to watch a fictional jury deliberation. The show was quite good. One thing I liked about it was they didn’t change the play to make it more current (i.e. adding women and minorities to the jury). I find the show most effective set in the past with a jury that would likely be chosen. For good or for bad, twelve angry white men would probably who would be on the jury. The day was a fun, court filled day.

Share your jury duty stories in the comments.

Class dismissed!