Grantsburg Middle School Takes Top Honors

MADISON, May 18, 2006 – Grantsburg Middle School students recently took first place honors for their public policy portfolio, Kill the Idea of Suicide, at a statewide competition for the We the People . . . Project Citizen competition held recently in Madison. A collaboration of the State Bar of Wisconsin and the Wisconsin State Senate, the program enables kids to learn how public policy affects their lives and, through their own actions, how they can impact policies in their communities.

"This program encourages students to select a policy topic, do the research and put together their project for judging – all with approval from their teacher, of course," said program coordinator Jack James. "We were especially pleased and honored to have a team of students from the Raul Pavon School in Otavalo, Ecuador join us as part of the international exchange."

Shattuck Middle School of Neenah took second place honors with their portfolio, Breaking Bad Bus Behavior, while third place went to the Salam School in Milwaukee for their portfolio dealing with What is for Lunch?

Designed for students in upper elementary, middle school, and 9th grade civics education, the program teaches students how to monitor and influence public policy. As a class project, students identify and study a public policy issue, evaluate options, select a solution, and develop an action plan to solve the problem.

The final product is a portfolio displaying each group's work and a simulated legislative hearing, demonstrating their knowledge and understanding of how public policy is formulated. Classes may enter their portfolios in a local competition and local winners submit their portfolios for the statewide competition held at the State Bar of Wisconsin.

The Grantsburg team, this year's state winners, will participate in the Project Citizen National Conference of State Legislatures later this summer.

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