DA’s office adopts Longmeadow middle school classrooms

Nov. 6, 2019 | Danielle Eaton
daniellee@thereminder.com

­­­SPRINGFIELD – Hundreds of kids in Hampden County will have the opportunity to see a different side of the justice system thanks to the District Attorney’s Adopt-A-Class program.

The program kicked off on Oct. 28 at the Chestnut Accelerated Middle School in Springfield where District Attorney Anthony Gulluni addressed eighth graders.

Gulluni told Reminder Publishing this is the program’s busiest year since he was elected into office. In addition to adopting the eighth graders at the Chestnut Accelerated Middle School, the DA’s office has also adopted eighth grade classes in Springfield’s STEM Academy, Holyoke’s Maurice Donahue and Lt. Clayre Sullivan Elementary Schools and Longmeadow’s Glenbrook and Williams Middle Schools.

Including Gulluni’s initial visit, the DA’s office also donates school supplies, returns to teach a lesson in civics, hosts a trial reenactment and gives the students a tour of the Hampden County Hall of Justice. During the tour guest speakers will address the students to give them insight on the inner workings of the criminal justice system and the variety of careers that can be pursued in the criminal justice field.

This, Gulluni said, introduces the students “to the legal underpinnings” the DA’s office does. He said, “It’s a really favorable way to engage with young people across the county and put a different face on the DA.” He continued, “Children of all ages are so important because they’re under a lot of stress and issues nowadays, so we want to engage with them in a favorable way.”

It also helps the students see the DA’s office “in a different light” and “get their curriculum from a different source,” he noted.  This, Gulluni said, helps the students to understand the constitution, the legal system, career paths offered in the field and “where they can go and why it’s important.”

Gulluni said the office tries to use the program to help schools across Hampden County. “We try to just get out to different cities and towns, and spread the resources. We’ve been to really all parts of the county, suburban, urban, rural,” he said.  

Gulluni explained they try to get into as many schools as they can. “We really enjoy going into the bigger school systems, these kids really benefit from us being there, it’s a lot of fun,” he told Reminder Publishing. “We just like to get out as broadly as we can.”

Of all the work he gets to do as the DA, Gulluni said the Adopt-A-Class program is by far his favorite. “It’s my favorite part of my job, it’s inspiring, and renewing, and refreshing. Other work I do is not so hopeful all the time,” he said. “These young people are so bright ambitious and curious. It’s a very, very special thing.”

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