For Immediate Release
|
|
CONTACT: Christi Powers
State Bar of Wisconsin
(800) 444-9404, ext. 6025
cpowers@wisbar.org |
|
|
Statewide middle schools to compete in public policy competition
State Bar of Wisconsin hosts annual We the People - Project Citizen
contest
MADISON, May 15, 2003 - Some 75 middle school
students from seven schools will compete in the annual We the People -
Project Citizen contest at the State Bar of Wisconsin on Saturday, May
17 at 9 a.m. Aimed at educating students on state and local government
issues, the competition judges portfolios that attempt to solve current
problems such as water preservation, hate crimes, drug abuse or youth
violence.
"Project Citizen helps to bring students and teachers together," said
Dee Runaas, State Bar law education coordinator. "They take a particular
public policy issue and develop a plan to solve the problem affecting
their community."
Those participating in this year's competition include:
- Blessed Sacrament School, Madison - ideas to
improve bus load safety zones
- Crestwood Elementary, Madison - a plan to increase
school recess time
- DeForest Middle School - a plan to develop a
connecting bike trail between Windsor and DeForest
- Grantsburg Middle School (three projects) - how to
stem teen drinking, smoking and drug abuse prevention
- Heritage Christian Middle School, West Allis (three
projects) - ideas for water conservation; youth violence prevention; and
a plan to address cell phone use while driving
- Muckey 4-H Club, Muskego - ideas to stem homeless
animals and stray dogs and cats
- Salem School, Milwaukee - a plan to prevent hate
crimes
- Shattuck Middle School, Neenah - ideas to curb
sleep deprivation
Project Citizen is a civic education program for middle school
students designed to promote competent and responsible participation in
state and local government. As an extracurricular project requiring
dozens of student and teacher hours, the project results in a large
display and student portfolio that outlines the problem, solution and
alternatives to various community issues.
"Not only do students and teachers learn from this civic education
project, the community itself benefits from their work," Runaas added.
"Even the judges seem to enjoy this event."
Co-sponsored by the Wisconsin Law Foundation, the Center for Civic
Education, and the National Conference of State Legislatures, the
competition features a panel of nearly 20 judges including attorneys,
legislators, retired teachers and government leaders. Among this year's
judges, Wisconsin State Journal Editor Frank Denton, Asst.
Superintendent of Public Instruction Richard Grobschmidt, Senator-elect
Jeff Plale, Rep. Debi Towns and Terry Anderson, director of the
Wisconsin Legislative Council, are scheduled to attend.
For more information on Project Citizen and other State Bar
law-related education efforts, visit www.legalexplorer.com/education
or contact Dee Runaas at (800) 444-9404, ext. 6191.
Press Releases