San Diego Institute, Summer '09

In early July, 24 teachers from multiple grade levels, a diversity of learning communities and geographic locations joined together at the University of San Diego for a five-day Summer Institute on We the People, The Citizen and the Constitution.



Divided into four collaborative teams led by a mentor teacher, participants were asked to prepare for a simulated congressional hearing, the culminating activity of We the People, and the foundational reason for the tremendous success that students using We the People have had over the course of the past 20 years.



Participants were also treated to outstanding scholarship from Professors of History and Political Science. This year, California’s State Institute included Professor of History and former Editor of the Williams and Mary Quarterly, Scott Casper, from the University of Nevada, Reno, as well as Political Scientist Kevin Den Dulk from Grand Valley State University in Michigan, Dr. Mike Williams from the University of San Diego.



The setting, the scholarship, and the collaboration had a powerful effect on all participants. According to one, “The opportunity to learn from scholars of this caliber is so rare that is should be maximized during the institute and something that every teacher of Civics should be exposed to.” Another participant commented that “this is the best civic ed program she has ever seen for elementary students and hopes that more and more teachers will participate in the Center for Civic Education’s and California’s We the People professional development program.”
 

Institute Participants work closely together to prepare for culminating simulated hearing.