To get closer to U.S. law, Patrick Thayer traveled to its
origin
– Washington, D.C.
To get closer to U.S. law, Patrick Thayer traveled to its origin – Washington, D.C.
The San Benito High School junior participated in the Presidential Classroom program Feb. 1-8. Thayer’s section concentrated on law and justice in a democracy.
Thayer, who wants to be a corporate lawyer, plans to attend Yale Law School after he earns a bachelor’s degree.
“I have an interest in corporate accountability,” he said. “I’ve always wanted to be a lawyer. People used to always tell me I should be a lawyer because I liked to argue.”
About 460 students – 31 from California – attended the conference, said Thayer, who went on independent study at SBHS during the week he was gone.
The students were split into smaller groups for activities. They went to the floor of the House of Representatives, the U.S. Supreme Court, toured the Library of Congress, attended a seminar at the Department of Agriculture and toured the White House – which is by invitation only since Sept. 11, 2001. Thayer also met U.S. Rep. Sam Farr.
A highlight of Thayer’s week was two key speakers – Kenneth Starr and William Suter. Starr, the independent counsel in the Whitewater investigation of former President Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton, spoke about justice and the United States. Suter is U.S. Supreme Court clerk and discussed the Supreme Court and its cases.
Thayer said the week was well worth the journey because he learned a lot.
“(The program) showed me a lot about what law’s about,” he said. “It also showed me the political side of law – how people use it to get what they want.”
Presidential Classroom is a non-profit, non-partisan civic education organization that has provided more than 100,000 students unprecedented access to the federal government and the people who shape public policy, according to its Web site.
The program cost $1,000 plus $500 to fly to Washington, D.C., Thayer said. In December, he began sending 150 letters to local businesses and raised most of the $1,000 through sponsorships.
“It was definitely worth it (the cost),” he said. “It gave me the chance to see what I’m getting into before I start studying it. I got to meet a lot of people and hear their side of arguments. It’s a week I’ll never forget. Even though I was very tired, I learned so much.”
For more information on Presidential Classroom, go to www.presidentialclassroom.org.
