[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 74 (Monday, May 19, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E994-E995]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




TRIBUTE TO EAST HIGH SCHOOL TEAM IN THE WE THE PEOPLE: THE CITIZEN AND 
                 THE CONSTITUTION 2003 NATIONAL FINALS

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. DIANA DeGETTE

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                          Monday, May 19, 2003

  Ms. DeGETTE. Mr. Speaker, on April 26-28 2003, more than 1200 
students from across the United States visited Washington, D.C. to 
compete in the national finals of the We the People: The Citizen and 
the Constitution program, the most extensive educational program in the 
country developed specifically to educate young people about the 
Constitution and the Bill of Rights. Administered by the Center for 
Civic Education, the We the People program is funded by the U.S. 
Department of Education by an Act of Congress.
  I am proud to announce that the class from East High School in 
Denver, representing the State of Colorado won the Mountain/Plains 
Regions award at the finals. This award is presented to the school in 
each of five geographic regions with the highest cumulative score 
during the first two days of the national finals. These outstanding 
students competed against 48 other classes from throughout the nation 
and demonstrated a remarkable understanding of the fundamental ideals 
and values of America constitutional government. These

[[Page E995]]

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.
  The students are Nate Allen, James Berry, Andrew Brown, Ryan 
Buescher, Susan Creighton, Patrick Cunningham, Ashley Eppler, Kari 
Fulton, Joseph Garvin, Steve Harlor, Russell Hedman, Alex Home, Ali 
Kimmell, Eimear Lynch, Suzanne McCartney, Jacob Pearson, Emily 
Schulman, Joseph Tabano, Marta Thompson, Maria Velazquez and Trevor 
Wolfson. Kudos to them and their leader, East High teacher Edna Sutton. 
I would also like to recognize the State Coordinator Jackie Johnson and 
District Coordinator Loyal Darr whose hard work and dedication helps 
make it all possible.
  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.
  The class from East High School is currently preparing for their 
participation in the national competition. It is inspiring to see these 
young people advocate the fundamental ideals and principles of our 
government, ideas that identify us 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 at the We 
the People national finals.

                          ____________________