Sisters places second in We the People competition

A team of Sisters High School students converged upon Pendleton High School on Thursday, January 14 to participate in the We the People Second Congressional District competition.

The We the People project, sponsored by the Center for Civic Education, promotes civic knowledge and responsibility among our nation's students.

Over a 12-week trimester, students at Sisters High School learn about the origins of the American system of law as well as the differences between that of the U.S. and other countries.

At Sisters High School a rigorous constitutional law class, also called We the People, is taught by teachers Garrett Gladden and Gail Greaney. Students from this class participate in the We the People competition annually.

Competing against regional powerhouse Pendleton High School, the Sisters team took a close second place, and coach Gladden is very satisfied with the team's effort.

"Led by strong performances by Elle Meyer, Jake Lasken and Alex Novotny, our team did a fantastic job," he said.

In class, the teams research issues covering all aspects of the Constitution and its issues, ranging from early forms of government, the development of America's government, comparing and contrasting the U.S. to other legal systems, and also looking at current events and issues that are on the horizon.

The competition involves six groups from each school, charged with covering topics such as the philosophical and historical foundations of the American political system, how the values and principles embodied in the Constitution shaped American institutions and practices, as well as challenges that might face American constitutional democracy in the 21st Century.

During the competition, each group has four minutes to present prepared position statements on one of three topics. Judges, comprised of attorneys, scholars and history professors, then take six minutes to cross-examine students, wherein students are asked to further justify their position.

We the People students participate in simulated congressional hearings to demonstrate their knowledge of history, case law, and the Constitution that has shaped ideas about rights, liberties and freedoms in the U.S.

"The experience of preparing for and going through the competition, creating position statements on issues that few Americans get to discuss, much less in this depth, is fantastic," said Gladden.

Senior Jake Lasken noted that, "taking We the People has helped me gain a clear understanding of the basis of my rights and freedoms. Being able to understand the Constitution has changed the way I act as an individual."