Masconomet Regional High School Students Attend James Otis Lecture at Massachusetts State House

BOXFORD – Superintendent Michael Harvey and Social Studies Department Head Eva Hughes share that Masconomet Regional High School students were recently invited to attend the James Otis Lecture, presented by the Massachusetts Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates.

The James Otis Lecture Series was created by the American Board of Trial Advocates to educate and inspire students across the nation and to provide them with appropriate knowledge of and respect for the U.S. Constitution. During the lecture, Masco students learned about the 21st Century applications of the Constitution.

Masco students in American History and American Government classes traveled to the Massachusetts State House in Boston on Tuesday, Sept. 19. Students were accompanied by American History and American Government teachers David Mitchell, Laura Greeley, and Eva Hughes. 

Dr. Linda Chervinsky, author and historian, discussed the decisions of the Washington and Adams administration that helped lay a firm foundation for the growth and protections of self-government. 

Professor Akhil Reed Amar, professor of Constitutional Law at Yale University, discussed the constitutional limits of presidential power. 

Students sat in the House of Representatives Chambers. All received signed copies of Dr. Chervinsky’s acclaimed work, “The Cabinet,” or Professor Amar’s book, “The Words That Made Us.” Several students had the opportunity to ask questions at the end of the lecture. 

Following the event, Hughes sent a note to state Rep. Simon Cataldo, who arranged for the lecture to happen in the House Chambers and reserved the space on behalf of the organizers, expressing her gratitude for the experience on behalf of Masco students.

“I wanted to extend a sincere thank you for hosting Masconomet Regional High School students at the James Otis Lecture Series. We appreciate the House Chambers for the event and opening the doors of the State House to kids who otherwise wouldn’t visit. Being inside the House Chambers was inspiring to them and they were eager to explore the historic building,” Hughes said. “They were also star-struck by our local legislators and excited at the prospect of seeing the Governor.

“Hearing from such esteemed scholars and then having the opportunity to address them directly was a very powerful experience for my students. They happily received their books, and when I spoke to them after the event, they were determined to follow the advice of Professor Amar and read them. As a history teacher, I was very pleased to see such engaging speakers that brought the Washington administration alive with interesting anecdotes and images to draw students in.”