[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 64 (Thursday, May 1, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E846-E847]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         CONGRATULATIONS TO WEST ANCHORAGE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. DON YOUNG

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 1, 2003

  Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to applaud the more 
than 1200 students from across the United States that traveled to 
Washington, D.C. this past weekend to compete in the national finals of 
the We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution program. 
Administered by the Center for Civic Education and funded by the U.S. 
Department of Education, We the People is the most extensive 
educational program in the country developed specifically to educate 
young people about the Constitution and the Bill of Rights.
  I am proud to announce that students from West Anchorage High School 
in Anchorage represented the state of Alaska in this national event. 
These young scholars have worked conscientiously to reach the national 
finals by participating at local and statewide competitions. As a 
result of their experience, they have gained a deep knowledge and 
understanding of the fundamental principles and values of our 
constitutional democracy. For the first time in the competition's 
history, a team from Alaska participated in the events' final round and 
finished the competition in 4th Place.
  The three-day We the People national competition is modeled after 
hearings in the United States Congress. The hearings consist of oral 
presentations by high school students before a panel of adult judges on 
constitutional topics. The students are given an opportunity to 
demonstrate their knowledge while they evaluate, take, and defend 
positions on relevant historical and contemporary issues. Their 
testimony is followed by a period of questioning by the judges who 
probe the students' depth of understanding and ability to apply their 
constitutional knowledge.
  The We the People program provides curricular materials at upper 
elementary, middle, and high school levels. The curriculum not only 
enhances students' understanding of the institutions of American 
constitutional democracy, it also helps them identify the contemporary 
relevance of the Constitution and Bill of Rights. Critical thinking 
exercises, problem-solving activities, and cooperative learning 
techniques help develop participatory skills necessary for students to 
become active, responsible citizens.
  Independent studies by the Educational Testing Service (ETS) revealed 
that students enrolled in the We the People program at upper 
elementary, middle, and high school levels ``significantly outperformed 
comparison students on every topic of the tests taken.'' Another study 
by Richard Brody at Stanford University discovered that students 
involved in the We the People program develop greater commitment to 
democratic principles and values than do students using traditional 
textbooks and approaches.
  I am proud to have the class from West Anchorage High School 
represent my home state of Alaska and I applaud their historic 4th 
Place finish. It is inspiring to see these young people advocate the 
fundamental ideals and principles of our government, ideas that 
identify us

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as a people and bind us together as a nation. It is important for 
future generations to understand these values and principles, which we 
hold as standards in our endeavor to preserve and realize the promise 
of our constitutional democracy. I wish these young ``constitutional 
experts'' the best of luck in all of their future endeavors.

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