Judge D’Apolito visits fourth graders in Canfield

By Justin Wier

jwier@vindy.com

CANFIELD

Judge Anthony D’Apolito visited C.H. Campbell Elementary on Friday to talk to fourth-graders about making good decisions.

He told students to listen to their conscience, to be kind to others and to avoid doing drugs.

“If you can start a conversation about these important issues when kids are this young, you’re laying groundwork for future conversations,” Judge D’Apolito said.

The judge mentioned some of the cases he oversees in the Mahoning County Common Pleas court, including one concerning a recent murder that occurred during a drug deal.

He acknowledged that these are topics many people may refrain from bringing up with fourth-graders, but he said thinking we can wait to discuss these matters with children is probably naive.

“I just know that kids are being exposed to things at a younger age,” he said.

Before being elected to the court, Judge D’Apolito served as a magistrate in the Mahoning County Juvenile Court. He came into contact with juveniles facing drug offenses on a daily basis.

He said he would rather err on the side of caution and have these conversations a little earlier than necessary than have kids come into contact with drugs before anyone has prepared them for those encounters.

“I feel the need to talk about this now, so when someone mentions this to you, you know how bad it can be,” the judge told students. “I’ve seen too many young people start using drugs.”

He also asked the students to recognize that they are privileged and have been insulated from things that children in less fortunate circumstances encounter on a daily basis.

He asked students if they’ve ever done something wrong, and if they knew they were doing something wrong. All the students raised their hands in response to both questions.

The judge said people know when they’re making bad decisions, but they just don’t have the strength to listen to their conscience.

“Doing the right thing isn’t a test that we can fail if we don’t want to,” Judge D’Apolito said, encouraging them to resist making bad decisions.

Fourth-grade teacher Dana Zarlenga-Buist brought the judge in to speak to the students. She said Judge D’Apolito speaks about many of the same topics they address in class, and it validates what they’re doing.

“The points he makes and that he drives home are what they need to hear at a young age,” she said.