California - We the People:
The Citizen and the Constitution
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WTP Highschool
Companion Website
California Project Citizen Website
California Project
Citizen
If you are interested in our sister program, We the People, Project
Citizen please contact Project Citizen State Coordinator, Tina Ochoa at
ochoa@civiced.org
CALIFORNIA WE THE PEOPLE
ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE
The California We the People, The Citizen and the Constitution program
is one of only two states that divides itself not only into
Congressional Districts but also Regional Districts. Below is the map
of this organization which should assist you in finding the appropriate
Region Coordinator to Contact.
Recent Posts
California We the People is honored to announce a new
link with outstanding video production produced by James Moxom and his
crew at WTP Films. For insights into the We the People program and the
Mock Congrressional Hearing, go to the following,
http://www.wtpfilms.com to
see an outstanding representation of a congressional hearing as well as
the story of the National Champion Arcadia High School We the People
Team.
NEW! Pacing Guides for Level I, II, and III
We the People Texts
New: Literacy guides Available
The purpose of these guides is to provide
teachers using the WTP program strategies and resources to help
struggling readers. They include:
-An examination of the challenges facing struggling readers and their
teachers
-An explanation of the reading process
-Practical strategies for classroom teachers
-Teacher resources
New: Sample Follow-Up Questions
WELCOME!
Welcome to the California,
We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution Website. This Civic
Education program was first developed by the Center for Civic Education
in 1987 as the official curricular program to celebrate the Bicentennial
of the Constitution and Bill of Rights. For over twenty years, the
California We the People program has been committed to assisting
educators from all learning communities prepare our students for
citizenship in the Twenty-First century by focusing classroom learning
on developing Civic Knowledge, Civic Skills, and Civic Dispositions. To
learn more about the National We the People program, please go to the
CCE Home button on the menu above.
Our website is intended to provide both local and statewide contact
information, as well as information on professional development and
community activities that are being held around the state every month of
year. It is also our goal to provide both teachers and students with
valuable resources that will assist in their learning about America's
Constitution and the role that each individual plays in promoting both
individual rights and the common good. Use the navigation bar above to
quickly access resources for the program developed by staff and
educators from California and across the world. If you have a question
about our program statewide or in your community, do not hesitate to
contact the California Consulting State Coordinator, Terri Richmond or
former state coordinator, and now volunteer, David Richmond at
cawtp35@yahoo.com
or 661-871-5636.
CONGRATULATIONS
to Arcadia High School
For placing 3rd at the 2012 We The People National Finals
And to Centennial High School
For Receiving an Outstanding Unit Award.
More to Follow!
California Holds 25th State Finals for
We the People…the Citizen and the Constitution
Arcadia students take the stage as California champions for 2012
CONGRATULATIONS to the Arcadia High School We the People team and
teacher coach Kevin Fox, our 2012 California State Champions.
Also, congratulations to the Centennial High School team from
Bakersfield, CA who will be attending the National Finals as the
wildcard team. Special thanks go out to all participants, judges and timers who made
this year's State Championship possible.
California 25th Annual We the People State Finals
On Friday, February 10th eight We the People teams from all over California met at Golden Valley High School in Bakersfield for the opening ceremony of the 25th annual State Finals. The teams ate pasta, enjoyed a David Letterman-style Top 10 ranking, answered trivia about Chief Justice Earl Warren, and gave tribute to their wonderful teachers. These teams included Irvington High, Amador Valley High, and Foothill High, all from northern California; Granite Hills High, Arcadia High, and Martin Luther King High, all from southern California; and Arvin High and Centennial High from the Central Valley. Bright and early Saturday morning these same teams convened again to engage in two intense rounds of Congressional Hearings. Over forty volunteer staff and judges assisted as the teams tackled issues of historical and current significance. In the end, Arcadia High School emerged as the winner and will represent California at the National Finals in April at George Mason University in Virginia. Centennial High received 2nd place, while Irvington place 3rd. During the awards ceremony special recognition was given to local attorney Milt Younger for his long-term support of civic education in the Central Valley. Carol and Bill Hatcher were presented with the Roy Erickson award for their continuing commitment to all forms of civic education. Owen Shaw, class of 2000, received the Alum Award.
If you are
interested in assisting with a monetary donation, please see
www.civiced.org for information or email our program at cawtp35@yahoo.com
CALIFORNIA/NEVADA SUMMER INSTITUTE IN RENO NEVADA BRINGS OUTSTANDING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TO TEACHERS FROM NEIGHBORING STATES!
Thirty-one elementary, middle school and high school teachers from twenty-six schools from both California and Nevada converged on the Northern Nevada Bar Center in Reno for six days of rigorous professional development focusing on the We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution curriculum and culminating hearing. Nevada State Coordinator Kathleen Dickinson with assistance from California State Coordinator David Richmond provided what many teachers and long-time mentors believed to be one of the best summer institutes experiences ever. With the leadership of outstanding mentors Angela Orr, Mark Towell, Debbie Berger, Kim Tetzlaff, Bob McCoy and Kevin Fox, participants were treated to a wide array of pedagogical approaches to assist in improving the teaching of civics in their classrooms. Scholarship was provided by Oregon Supreme Court Justice (Ret.) Sue Leeson, Chair of the History Department at University of Nevada, Reno Scott Casper and Chair of the History Department, University of Nevada, Las Vegas David Tanenhaus during the six days of presentations. Participants were also allowed to enjoy the wonderful cultural opportunities that Reno offers. As one participant said “It is unfortunate that Congress chose to cut funding for this outstanding program. If every History or Civics teacher in America could have the experience that I have had this past week, I know for a fact that the future of our government would be in good hands.” The State Coordinators from Nevada and California would like to thank the Center for Civic Education, the Nevada Humanities Council and the Northern Nevada Bar Center for their outstanding support of this event.
For more photos and slide show of the event, please go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MtlNhwg-gms
LOSS OF FEDERAL FUNDS BRINGS ABOUT ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGES IN CA WTP AND PROJECT CITIZEN.
It is sometimes said that we save the best for last. The 2010-2011 program year for We the People, The Citizen and the Constitution was one of the best in the past 10 years. However, with the loss of Federal funds for this next program year, CAWTP has had to make some adjustments. The first and most obvious challenge is that with the loss of funding, our Level I, II, and III texts cannot be provided for free nor will there be significant funds for professional development opportunities. For the purposes of High School events, California has reorganized into four Major regions: Bay Area, Charlotte Powers and Suzette Ferguson will be coordinators in charge. Northern Valley, Dee Morgan, Coordinator in charge, Southern Valley, Terri Richmond and Marvin Awbrey Coordinators in charge, and So California, Pam Allender, Peg Hill, Pat Hitchcock, and Dr. Mike Williams Coordinators in charge. These outstanding volunteers can be found on our coordinator page and you can make contact with them for any information you may want or need.
In regards to text, we are working diligently to find sources of funding to assist schools. We have developed an adopt a school program with the California and affiliate Bar Associations, and you can go to the donation page on the www.civiced.org website at http://new.civiced.org/about/give/we-need-your-help You can also access the Center’s on-line store and look at the materials available and the prices being offered. Lastly, California will still provide the We the People E-Books for free. Go to the button on the top of the page to access or you can call the Center for Civic Education for assistance.
Lastly, with the downsizing of the Center, David Richmond will no longer be the State Coordinator, although given his 25 years of commitment and work with the Center he will volunteer to assist all coordinators and teachers throughout the state. Terri Richmond, a former teacher with the program and Region 4 Coordinator has been named the Consulting State Coordinator for CA We the People and Project Citizen.
With continued commitment and hard work of our coordinators, teachers, parents, and alumni we are very excited about our continued progress and success. We are very hopeful that Congress will see the light and reinvest in Civic Education and the We the People program the coming program year.
Please encourage your communities to donate time and funds to our efforts.