"We The People" tests civics knowledge of local high schoolers
January 18, 2012
By David Nguyen
Congratulation to Franklin High School's Constitution Team for their milestone win at this year's “We The People” annual competition. As always, Nick was honored to be one of three judges for the district 1, 3 and 5 competitions at Lake Oswego High School. As in years past, in addition to judging he delivered remarks - last year he talked about the Joint Terrorism Task Force, this year's speech covered Occupy Portland and the First Amendment.
As Steve Duin reports in The Oregonian, while Lincoln and Grant have dominated the competition over the last 25 years, Franklin's team was formed just 7 years ago, in 2005. But this year, it was Franklin that took top honors.
Founded in 1987, "We the People" has helped high school students across the country learn about the foundation of American democracy. The program culminates with a simulated congressional hearing, in which participants test their knowledge before a panel of civic leaders, attorneys, and teachers.
This Saturday, Duin writes, teams from Franklin, Lincoln, Junction City, Lake Oswego and Grant high school will compete before a panel of judges that includes two Oregon Supreme Court justices and two members of the Court of Appeals.
The winner of the state competition will travel to Washington, D.C., in late April to compete for the national title.
"We the People" is co-sponsored by the Center for Civic Education and the Classroom Law Project.