Mock trial, a forensic activity in which students stage a trial court procedure, is quickly rising in popularity among high school and college students. This week on Home School Heartbeat, host Mike Farris is joined by the current New York state champions—a homeschool team.
Mike Farris:
Our guest today is homeschooling father and mock trial coach, Tom Trouwborst. Tom, welcome to the program.
Tom Trouwborst:
Good to be on today, Mike, and thanks for having us on and for your great work.
Mike:
Tom, along with your duties as a homeschooling dad and a pastor, now you've added mock trial coach to your résumé. What attracted you to mock trial and made you decide to coach a team?
Tom:
Well, I think it’s because I became insane.…I don’t know if it was the wisest thing to do and, to be honest, there was a necessity. The previous coach was not able to coach, and they had no coach, and my son was a senior that year—two years ago—this was the second year that I did it. So I stepped up, so to speak, and I really think highly of the sport and the skills that the children are honing, and an opportunity to be with my children and to work with them and to serve the Christian and the homeschooling community. So really, it was, as I said, insanity in one sense, but just an opportunity to serve and to be with my kids—and it really worked out for the best.
Mike:
Tom, thank you so much for joining us, and what a great story! Equipping our youth doesn’t stop at academic subjects, and you've showed us a great training ground for bringing up new leaders. I'm Mike Farris.
