A second-year social studies teacher was recently afforded the opportunity to travel to the nation's capital to observe real-world applications of the rule of law in order to broaden his perspective in the classroom at Poplar Bluff High School.

Tristan Gillihan, who teaches American history, was selected as part of a group of around 30 educators from across the country to learn about the judicial system firsthand from Monday through Friday, June 22-26, in the Washington metropolitan area.

“The courts provide another lens through which I can show my students history, with the added benefit of expanding their knowledge of their rights as American citizens and deepening their knowledge of the judicial branch of American government,” Gillihan summarized.

The summer institute, arranged for middle and high school teachers, is sponsored by the Federal Judicial Center and the American Bar Association, which covered all expenses including flight, hotel, meals, fuel and parking.

Gillihan applied for this professional development after becoming aware of the program in December during the Central Social Studies Summit in Columbia. Most of the fellow teachers were further advanced in their tenure, noted Gillihan, representing a wide range of urban and rural school systems.

The group spent the majority of the time at the FJC reviewing a series of historic and landmark court cases including the Sedition Act Trials of 1798, United States v. Charles J. Guiteau and Clay v. United States, then they discussed the surrounding context with a Washington historian plus the legal implications with a local judge, Gillihan shared. During the remainder of the week, the educators visited the District Court of Maryland, where they observed a case concerning immigration protections, and finally the U.S. Supreme Court to witness the justices deliver opinions on several contemporary cases.

“Being at the center of a building that holds such historical gravity was very inspiring,” Gillihan recalled of the grand finale of the visit, noting that photos inside the high court were strictly prohibited. “The entire day felt as if I was stepping directly into the history that I have been teaching, and it helped bridge the reality of the history I have been teaching into a place I was physically standing in.”

To allow for some additional sightseeing of monuments, memorials and federal buildings, Gillihan decided to extend his stay over the weekend on his own dime. He described his personal favorite stop, the Library of Congress, as "awe-inspiring." Elaborating, he said: “Whether it was depicting classic American iconography through paintings across the ceiling, the many sculptures of American heroes decorating the walls, or the striking architecture which seemed to complement every piece with remarkable intention – every inch of the room demanded to be admired.”

A graduate of the PBHS Class of 2022, Gillihan completed his undergraduate studies at Missouri State University in Springfield, where he developed his passion for history and chose teaching in order to pay it forward. With his newfound insight, he hopes to delve deeper into the inner workings of the court system and provide a broader historical context when highlighting key court cases, he reflected.

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Cutline: Tristan Gillihan, who has entered his second year of teaching American history at PBHS, is pictured in front of the U.S. Supreme Court during a summer institute for teachers that he was invited to attend.