CALIFORNIA’S WE THE PEOPLE FINAL SEMINAR OF
 THE PROGRAM YEAR HELPS ENLIGHTEN TEACHERS ON THE VALUE AND SIGNIFICANCE OF COMPARATIVE CONSTITUTIONS

May 13-15:  Twenty-one teachers along with two mentors and Scholar, Dr. J. Michael Williams enjoyed and intense and exciting three days together looking at the American Constitution from a comparative perspective.  Held on the beautiful University of San Diego campus, this was the 3^rd in a series of weekend seminars that the CA We the People program has held this program year.   Moving from the basic discussion on fundamentals of a constitutional government through the drafting and ratifying process used around the world, and closing with a case study on South Africa’s Constitution, participants were asked to participate in rigorous discussion, fascinating classroom activities, and a culminating activity which asked them to design a constitution for a fictional country.  As one participant said “The Seminar did a superb job on activities and scholarship.  Enrichment activities such as this fuel my curriculum and help me ask/think through issues.”  The weekend seminars that were held this year at both USD and UCI Law School were some of the most highly rated professional development events that CA WTP has held in the past five years.  It is partnerships like these with outstanding institutions of higher learning that has made California a leader if civic education.  With the challenges of funding being cut from the Center for Civic Education’s We the People program, we do not know what our professional development opportunities will look like in the future, but please continue to check our website for future information and opportunities.  As another participant commented in their evaluation, “This program is the reason I have become a teacher. Without programs like this I don’t see my teaching experience being as rewarding.”

http://pleasantonweekly.com/news/show_story.php?id=6779

http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_17978045?nclick_check=1

CALIFORNIA/NEVADA SUMMER INSTITUTE BRINGS 42 CIVIC EDUCATORS TOGETHER IN SAN DIEGO!

July 6 to 12, University of San Diego: For the second time in the past three years, the California and Nevada We the People, The Citizen and the Constitution programs partnered up to bring together over 40 civic education teachers to the “chilly” city of San Diego for an intense and rigorous study of America’s Constitution and Bill of Rights. The institute was funded by a special grant provided by the Center for Civic Education, who developed and manages the national We the People program.

The professional development institute exposes participants to the works of renowned scholars like Sue Leeson, Professor of Political Theory and a former member of the Oregon Supreme Court and Scott Casper, Professor of History at the University of Nevada, Reno and past Editor of the William and Mary Quarterly.

Following the scholars, Mentor Teachers in the We the People program led participants through the curriculum and modeled the pedagogical strategies found in all levels of the program, elementary, middle school, and high school. Each day ended with participants in their team groups preparing for the simulated congressional hearing, the foundational and culminating activity of the We the People program.

The highly acclaimed institute program received rave reviews from the participants. Said one teacher from Nevada, “Sue Leeson and Scott Casper were outstanding! I didn’t know teachers like that existed at the college level.” Another teacher from California added that she “appreciated that not only did I get great ideas for my classroom but I also got invaluable information as a citizen.”

There is no doubt that the week was rigorous and by the end many participants observed that they felt that their heads were heavy with ideas, but a new community of civic educators was formed out of the challenges of the week. The experience was best summarized by an elementary teacher from southern California who said, “This was truly the most exciting, best organized, helpful professional development I have ever been to. From the scholars to the mentors to the staff’s constant caring soul, it was on ongoing learning and sharing experience.”

If you are interested in future professional opportunities with the Center for Civic Education and the California and Nevada We the People programs, please go to www.civiced.org or check the events page at this website.

TO SEE MORE IMAGES FROM THE EVENT Click Here



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A Good Day in Our Nations Capitol: Region 5 Coordinator Pam Allender, along with co-coordinators for CA-29, Kim Allender and Irma Hernandez Conrad meeting with Congressman Adam Schiff, one of many great supporters in the House of Representatives from California that support the We the People programs. This photo was taken while over 500 State and District Coordinators were meeting in Washington D.C. during the annual Center for Civic Education/We the People Coordinators Conference in late June.
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WE THE PEOPLE SHOWCASE HEARINGS: ELEMENTARY STUDENTS WOW PARENTS, TEACHERS, ADMINISTRATORS AND VOLUNTARY JUDGES THROUGHOUT STATE.

Nearly 1200 fifth grade students from three school districts in Northern and Southern California expressed their constitutional knowledge and skill in a series of Showcase events from May 19th to June 4th. This level of participation is something that State Coordinator David Richmond is extremely proud of and he believes that with the dedication of California’s District Coordinators and Teachers, that the numbers of 5th grade students will continue to grow.


Students From Conejo Unified School District Participate in Showcase Hearings at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library

Over 1000 students from both the Oak Park and Conejo Valley Unified School Districts participated in the We the People Elementary Showcase at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Library during the weeks of 24th and 31st. For these two weeks 5th grade students participated in simulated Congressional Hearings before school and community leaders. Testifying on the Founders beliefs about our natural rights and the role of our current government and their responsibilities as citizens of the United States, students worked in teams to share their insight and knowledge. Recognized by California State Senator Tony Strickland and Assemblywoman Audra Strickland, each student received a certificate of recognition and achievement. Organized and Coordinated by CA-24 District Coordinator and CVUSD Program Coordinator Kim Tetzlaff, these hearings are the largest held in one venue in the entire United States. Ms. Tetzlaff acknowledged the dedication of the teachers, the support of the CVUSD administration and community and the partnership with the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Foundation as the primary reason for the tremendous success of the We the People program in this area of the state. Community support member Richard Stein said “The knowledge these children bring with them, their ability to reason with constitutional issues, their knowledge of the founding principles of our democracy and of the working of branches of government is astounding when you realize how few adults understand any of this. We are bringing along a generation of enlightened citizens in a challenging world filled with fear and lack of understanding of others, and it was an honor and privilege to be there. I was moved deeply. They bring with them a sense of hope for the future.”


District Coordinator Jim Bentley and Elk Grove Teachers Address Audience of Students and Parents

For one night only, the gymnasium and classrooms at Laguna Creek High School were transformed into Capitol Hill when nearly 160 5th grade students from Arnold Adreani and Foulks Ranch Elementary schools participated in the Elk Grove Unified School District’s 2nd Annual Simulated Congressional Hearings on May 19th. “The Hearings are a culminating activity for the We the People, The Citizen and the Constitution Program” said Mary Beth Kropp, principal at Foulks Ranch. “This program teaches the principles and values of the Constitution and Bill of Rights and also provides our students with a thorough understanding of their rights and responsibilities as American citizens.” The program was organized and coordinated by teacher and CA-3 District Coordinator Jim Bentley. Mr. Bentley, one of the nation’s lead elementary mentor teachers praised his fellow teachers and the students and believes that next year they will have 2-3 more classes of students participating in the program. He also thanked the support of the other coordinators in Region 1 and the Region Coordinator Dee Morgan for their assistance and support.

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NATIONAL CHAMPIONS!!!
Arcadia High School and Teacher/Coach Kevin Fox
Receive the Gold Medal at the 23rd Annual
We the People, the Citizen and the Constitution National Finals!! Congratulations to Mr. Fox, the Outstanding Students from Arcadia High, and the Arcadia Community for Bringing Back the Championship To California!!!
Check Out The Full Story Here
Congressional Statement

Arcadia High's California and National Championship Team -- Coach Kevin Fox
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Meadowbrook Middle School and Teacher Tina Shaw, First Annual SoCal We the People Middle School Competition Gold Medal Winners

First Annual Southern California Middle School
We the People, The Citizen and the Constitution
Congressional Hearing Competition
Ronald Reagan Presidential Library

Feb. 20, 2010: Over 150 students from five schools throughout the southland participated in the first annual We the People Southern California competition. This event was the byproduct of California’s State Coordinator, David Richmond, desire to build strong civic education programs in every school in the Golden State. The event was held at the beautiful and prestigious Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley and was organized by Coordinators Kim Tetzlaff and Mike Williams. Throughout the day, teachers, parents, and volunteers provided rave reviews about the quality of the event.

Volunteer judges from throughout the state were extremely impressed with the knowledge, poise, and skills that the students expressed. Alumni Judge, David Pierucci, himself getting ready to attend law school, commented that most of the hearing panels that he assessed would give many of the high school teams that compete a run for their money. “I was very impressed and somewhat overwhelmed by the historical and political understanding that these young students shared. I believe that every person who holds a legislative position in this country should sit down with these students. They definitely would learn some important things.”

The five schools that earned an invitation to the Middle School event were Colina Middle School, Thousand Oaks, 24th Congressional District, Teacher Kris Olson; Van Avery Prep School, Temecula, 49th Congressional District, Teacher Theresa Bolton; De Anza Middle School, Ontario, 43rd Congressional District, Teacher Brent Heath; Los Cerritos Middle School, 24th Congressional District, Teacher Jamie Kay; Meadowbrook Middle School, Poway, 52nd Congressional District, Teacher Tina Shaw.

Unit Awards
Unit I -- Colina Middle School
Unit II -- Meadowbrook Middle School
Unit III -- Colina Middle School
Unit IV -- Meadowbrook Middle School
Unit V -- Van Avery Prep
Unit VI -- Van Avery Prep
Team Results
Third Place, Bronze Medal: Van Avery Prep
Second Place, Silver Medal: Colina Middle School
First Place, Gold Medal: Meadowbrook Middle School

ALSO: In concert with the Middle School Hearings. 15 teachers participated in a We the People Teacher Training at the Reagan Library coordinated by Region 5 Coordinator Pam Allender, and presented by Mentor Teachers Kim Allender and Terri Richmond. The teachers went through the Unit I material on Political Theory and Foundations with Presenter, Alumnus Neil Richmond, Graduate Student in Political Philosophy and then were taken through the curriculum and presented with teaching strategies. To culminate the training, the teachers were invited to observe the Competitive Hearings so that they could see the value of this assessment tool. Many of the participating teachers commented that having the training and seeing the hearings on the same day was invaluable to their understanding of the program and their ability to implement in their classrooms.

California We the People
 State Finals 2010 February 3-5
 
 Sacramento, CA: Wednesday February 3rd to Friday February 5th, nearly 500 students, teachers, community volunteers, family and friends converged on the Sacramento Hilton Arden West and the State Capitol to participate and observe the finest exhibition of civic knowledge and skills that this nation has to offer. According to State Coordinator David Richmond “There is no academic competition that highlights student knowledge of the Constitution and Bill of Rights than the California We the People, The Citizen and the Constitution State Finals.
 
 Twelve teams from around the state, representing the geographic, socio-economic, and ethnic diversity of California met in Sacramento for the 23rd Annual California State Finals. The first two rounds were held at the Hilton Sacramento Arden West, and according to volunteer judge Bob Warmack from Colorado, “The level of knowledge and skill that these students show would be a great example to every legislative branch across this great land.”
 
 The program opened up on Wednesday night with Keynote Speaker Assembly Majority Leader Alberto Torrico, and a surprise appearance by Assembly member Joan Buchanan, who shared with the audience their joint sponsorship of ACR 11, a California Civics Day for Teachers.
 
 After an intense 7 hours of competition on Thursday, the twelve schools were narrowed down to the final five, which would all compete on Friday at the State Capitol. Also that night, Susan Piekarski, a graduate of Amador Valley, 1999, and currently a teacher at Irvington High School, was honored as the Alumni of the Year and addressed the students on how facing failure is necessary in building stronger character and better citizens.

Finally, on Friday, after an intense final round, the anxious crowd gathered together at the Sacramento Hilton for the Awards ceremony. Andrea Mello was awarded the 2010 Roy Erickson Memorial Award, recognizing an individual who has given unselfishly to the California We the People Program. Following this emotional event, Tac Craven, the Chairman of the Board of Directors came to the stage to announce the Unit winners and the State Champion who would be representing California at the National Finals, April 23-26.

2010 State Finals Results

CONGRATULATIONS to the nearly 350 students and teachers who participated in this years We the People state finals. It was said by all 44 judges who participated this year that this was the toughest competition they have been involved with and that it was extremely difficult to separate out the teams.

Twelve schools, representing the geographic, socio-economic, and ethnic diversity met at the Sacramento Arden West Hilton and the State Capitol in Sacramento to determine which school would represent the Great State of California at the National We the People Finals in April.

Here are the results:
Gold Medal: Arcadia High School, Arcadia
Silver Medal: Amador Valley HS, Pleasanton
Bronze Medal: Irvington High School, Freemont
Fourth Place: Foothill High School, Pleasanton
Fifth Place: Centennial High School, Bakersfield

Unit Awards
Unit 1: Galileo High School, San Francisco
Unit 2: Calvin Christian High School, Escondido
Unit 3: Martin Luther King Jr. HS, Riverside
Unit 4: Foothill High School, Bakersfield
Unit 5: Monta Vista HS, Cupertino
Unit 6: Arvin High School, Arvin
 

Congressman Kevin McCarthy Visits Foothill WTP Class

Students listen as Congressman McCarthy discusses redistricting

On November 13^th, Congressman Kevin McCarthy (CA22) visited Terri Richmond’s We the People class in Bakersfield.  The Congressman and the students discussed economic issues, health care, redistricting, and sentencing for juveniles.  Student Chris Biezad solicited the Congressman’s views on the unitary executive and how the Framers might have felt.  McCarthy expressed that the response to 9/11 required an expansion of executive power.  When asked by student Bianca Ramirez about the fact that CA 22 is a relatively “safe” district, Congressman McCarthy expressed his desire for a more competitive district, stating that people who “breathe the same air and drive the same roads” have similar interests, regardless of party. 

Horacio Cortes and Gerardo Tellez get a little more information

Region 4: Bakersfield College Hosts Annual WTP Scholars Night

Foothill student Bianca Ramirez waits for David Richmond to call on her

 

On October 29^th, ten Kern county We the People teams met at Bakersfield College for their annual Scholars Night, hosted by the Center for Kern Political Education.  The evening began with awards presentations for recently retired Chief Public Defender, Mark Arnold, and Associate Superintendent for Kern County Superintendent of Schools, Pat Alexander.  Awards were given by representatives of Congressmen McCarthy, Costa, and State representatives Fuller and Ashburn.  Then the students were led in an examination of the case of Carey v. Musladin, concerning issues of the 1^st and 6^th amendments.  Terri Richmond, region 4 co-coordinator, led the opening discussion, and then state coordinator David Richmond engaged the crowd of over 250 students in a debate of the issues.  After the opening activity, students adjourned to their study rooms with their unit scholars for approximately 90 minutes of work.