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For the fourth time in the past six years, Miami Arts Studio (MAS) @Zelda Glazer 6-12 high school Law Magnet students have made it to the national round of We The People, The
Citizen and the Constitution competition that takes place in Washington, DC.
Back in 1987, the Center for Civic Education began the We The People, The Citizen and the Constitution competition with the purpose to promote civic competence and responsibility among the nation’s upper elementary and secondary students.
About 1,200 students from all 50 states visit Washington, DC, every year for a chance of becoming the winning school. The competition lasts two days and the top 10 classes compete at the Capitol, in the same rooms where real-life Congressional hearings take place. There, the students participate in a simulated congressional hearing where they “testify,” answering grueling questions before a panel of judges acting as members of Congress.
“It’s amazing when you see the schools that we’re up against, private schools where parents pay $40,000 a year or more in tuition, and here we are a small public school from Miami-Dade,” said Dr. Miguel Balsera, MAS principal. “We went in there and did amazing work. People were thoroughly impressed with our kids and how they performed.”
The We the People curriculum is taught nationwide to middle and high school students as an elective intended to teach them about elements of the Constitution, its origins, and its relevance to our democracy today. Since its inception 28 million students and 75,000 educators have participated in the program.
This year MAS ruled over the fierce competition at the district level and then won at the state level to represent Florida at the national competition. The school’s middle school team placed second at the state competition and first in the Unit One category nationally.
MAS Law Studies Magnet teacher Martha Salazar described the questions at the competition as “intense,” most at a graduate level of difficulty. One of the questions in the state contest this year was, “How are the principles and ideas of classical republicanism and natural rights philosophy represented in our governmental institutions and public policies today?”
Students must back up their responses, often citing parts of the Constitution, original source material from the Founding Fathers and the philosophical concepts they drew upon. Frequently, landmark Supreme Court cases are cited as well.
“The students’ ability to speak in public, state and show respect for the differences of opinion, their debate and civil discourse skills all skyrocket,” said Jackie Viana, district supervisor for M-DCPS’s Department of Social Studies. “Their knowledge of the Constitution is Harvard level. Most of these lawyers who volunteer for this are amazed at the nuances and depth of knowledge these kids end up having.”
MAS takes the preparation for this competition very seriously. Salazar said the students spend every day for three weeks practicing by doing pretend congressional hearings modeled after the competition format. The school’s Law Magnet has 192 students and even has a mock courtroom where they can practice.
“They practice here even on weekends. Volunteer judges come in and even county commissioners who have helped them in the past,” Dr. Balsera said. “The knowledge these kids have is second to none. They have an incredible drive to do well and show the world how well-versed they are on the Constitution.”
Salazar said the trip to DC was an amazing chance to visit many of the places they had been studying, including the Capitol, the Supreme Court building and the White House.
“(The students) said this was the best culmination of their education,” Salazar explained.
“They were so honored to be there and humbled by all the people who worked so hard to get them there like the teachers, donors, and other students who helped.”
In the end, all the preparation, studying, researching, and writing makes a big impact on these students. They see the gateway to a larger world, which could mean a career in law, government, or public speaking. Both parents and students come out this experience as proud to have made Miami-Dade County Public Schools their best choice for education.
“They are walking away with a civic education, and they gain such a broad understanding of how this country was created,” Dr. Balsera said. “They can think on their feet, apply their knowledge to any situation. As a result, our students get many scholarship offers and 12 have gone on to law school, but really this prepares them for a number of careers.”
Robert Brazofsky is executive director, Department of Social Studies, Miami-Dade County Public Schools.
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