EATON — A local troop of girls scouts had the opportunity to tour the Preble County Courthouse as they earned their “Democracy” and “Inside Government” badges.
Troop 30754, led by Teah Emrick and Melinda Moore, completed the final step of earning their badges by meeting with Preble County Common Pleas Magistrate Erica Gordon on Feb. 10, who helped to explain the three branches of government.
“They are learning about government – the three branches of government. They’re earning their democracy badge,” Emrick said. “We had a mock election in one of our past meetings, and then we’ve also worked on the women’s suffrage movement, because that was the anniversary recently. So, they’ve learned about that. We went out to Preble County Historical Society. This is kind of wrapping up all the loose ends, this meeting here and for Magistrate Gordon to go over everything.”
Steps for receiving the democracy badge included finding out about local and state government as well as the three branches of the federal government.
Additionally, the troop previously had to create a replica of the U.S. Capitol Building as well as hold the mock election.
The troop had the chance to sit inside the courtroom as Magistrate Gordon explained the three branches of government and asked them questions about how the government operates.
“Magistrate Gordon was flawless in explaining the branches of government at a level the girls could understand,” Emrick said.
The scouts also enjoyed the experience of being inside the Preble County Courthouse.
“They thought it was super cool to come into the big building here in Eaton and the courthouse and everything,” Emrick said. “They were pretty excited about it.”
Magistrate Gordon also touched on topics such as exercising the right to vote and how a courtroom functions.
When she asked the scouts if any had been in a courtroom before, one quick-witted scout responded, “We’ve seen Judge Judy.”
