Goldilocks on trial
RACINE - "Goldilocks knew what she was doing was wrong. She did what was right for Goldilocks, and was not using good manners."
That's how Patricia Hanson, an assistant district attorney for Racine County, summed up her case on Friday afternoon. A jury of fifth-graders at Red Apple Elementary, 914 Saint Patrick St., was about to decide whether or not to convict Goldilocks of having bad manners, for going into the Three Bears' house, eating their porridge, breaking Baby Bear's chair, and sleeping in his bed.
"Did she have permission to go into their house? No, she did not," acknowledged Charles Constantine, a circuit court judge who represented Goldilocks in the mock trial. "We are not arguing (that fact). But she did not demonstrate bad manners. She is 8 years old. She is tired. She is frightened. She is hungry."
Constantine was coming off a victory in front of a fourth-grade class. They, in a close vote, acquitted Goldilocks. He was hoping for a repeat, relying on the fact that Goldilocks was in distress when she came upon the house in the woods. A sign, "Friends always welcome" hung outside the door. She knocked, and when no one answered, went inside.
It didn't take long for students in Su Rodriguez's class to decide. Students talked for a few minutes - there were no arguments - and then voted, unanimously, to convict Goldilocks.
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