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  • Press Release
    January 09, 2003

    News Release January 2003: Eight state schools to compete in civics competition

    For Immediate Release
      CONTACT: Jason Westphal
    State Bar of Wisconsin
    (800) 444-9404, ext. 6077
    jwestphal@wisbar.org
    *

    Eight state schools to compete in civics competition

    MADISON, January 9, 2003 - Students from Country Christian Middle School (Nashotah), Greenfield High School, Heritage Christian Middle School (West Allis), Heritage Christian High School (West Allis), Merrill High School, Ripon High School, Wauwatosa East High School and Wisconsin Dells High School all hope to showcase their understanding of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights this weekend by participating in a statewide competition sponsored by the State Bar of Wisconsin and the Wisconsin Law Foundation.

    "We the People...The Citizen and the Constitution," a national program directed by the Center for Civic Education and funded by the U.S. Department of Education, will be held at the State Capitol on Saturday, Jan. 11.

    Under the direction of their teachers, the students spent a semester studying the constitutional principles of a democratic government. Each student, acting as an "expert witness" on a constitutional issue will testify before a panel of judges serving as U.S. congressional representatives. During the simulated congressional hearing, the students will be asked to discuss subjects such as - how the protections of the Bill of Rights have been developed/expanded and the roles of the citizen in American democracy. The students are judged on constitutional application, reasoning, supporting evidence, responsiveness and participation.

    "Wisconsin lawyers are committed to offering students and teachers opportunities for law-related education," said State Bar President Patricia Ballman. "Fostering public trust and confidence in the justice system must begin in the classroom."

    We the People is an educational program developed to promote civic competence and responsibility among elementary and secondary students. For the past 14 years, this project has involved hundreds of Wisconsin students and teachers in the examination of the Constitution.

    For more information on "We the People...The Citizen and the Constitution," visit www.legalexplorer.com, or contact Dee Runaas at (800) 444-9404, ext. 6191.

    The State Bar of Wisconsin is the mandatory professional association, created by the Wisconsin Supreme Court, for attorneys who hold a law license in Wisconsin. With more than 20,000 members, the State Bar aids the courts in improving the administration of justice, provides continuing legal education for its members, and carries out initiatives to educate the public about the legal system.



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