The start of the school year brought several new changes to Mounds View High School, with one notable difference being the addition of the new forensics science class taught by science teacher Samuel Perry. The study of forensics, scientific tests and techniques used with the goal of investigating a crime, has offered a different take on science and critical thinking to students.

Forensics, being an elective class rather than a science credit, has plenty of unique opportunities that students will not find in other classes. In the class, students do an extensive dive into what they could expect to see if they were interested in a law enforcement career. Some professions in forensics include crime scene investigators, commonly abbreviated as CSI, lab technicians and blood spatter analysts, all of which can be critical to solving a crime.

Perry has had a positive experience with the class so far, citing the students and flexibility of the curriculum. “It is the first time I have run the class, and I am by no means perfect, and my students have been wonderful and kinda giving me feedback and constructive criticism,” said Perry. “We are kinda building the class together and improving it as we go.”

In the forensics class, students are presented with several situations that can be applied to real-world scenarios. Perry believes that the class’s favorite activity so far was the large crime scene activity that the forensic class conducted in Kauls Court involving a mannequin “victim” and various pieces of “evidence” for the class to figure out who committed the “crime.” Another method the students learned was how to pull fingerprints off of evidence to identify who may have been at the crime scene.

Students from the forensics class had plenty to say in regards to the class, praising the alternative learning style and interactive elements. “I love how it is so hands-on, and we have so many labs,” said junior Chelsea Hanson.

Perry believes that the skills utilized in the class have many applications within and outside of the forensics field. “The real benefit of the class goes beyond the content itself; It’s about how the students learn to think,” said Perry. “Through deductive reasoning and solving forensic-based problems, students learn to analyze evidence, think logically and come to informed conclusions. These skills would be valuable in any future career or subject.”
Students have many exciting opportunities to look forward to in forensics class, and whether they are interested in pursuing a career in the field or just trying something new, the topics they cover contribute fun and interesting experiences to the Mounds View culture.