COLUMBUS (April 7, 2022) - As the end of the school year approaches, most students are thinking about their summer plans. But, close to 100 Ohio middle school students remain focused on academics, having spent the last few months studying and preparing for the Ohio Middle School We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution State Showcase on April 8 via Zoom.
Students from the following schools will participate in the state showcase: Berea-Midpark Middle School (Cuyahoga County), which has three classes participating, and one class from Sycamore Junior High School (Hamilton County).
We the People students participate in simulated legislative hearings to showcase their knowledge of the United States Constitution. Students evaluate, present, and defend positions on important historical and contemporary issues. After providing a prepared answer to the competition questions, students answer follow-up questions from judges, including college professors, judges, attorneys, and other community leaders.
Among the questions students will tackle: What parts of the Constitution are the result of compromises that settled disagreements between the Northern and Southern states? Should people be required to pass periodic citizenship tests to maintain their citizenship? Why or why not?
We the People coordinator, Cheyenne Oechsle is excited to see the students in action. “I think that the showcase gives middle schools students an opportunity to display their developing knowledge and skills in a constructive and meaningful way. I couldn’t think of a more rewarding program than We the People to see our future community members in action.”
We the People is administered in Ohio by the Ohio Center for Law-Related Education (OCLRE) and nationally by the Center for Civic Education. OCLRE is a non-profit, nonpartisan organization whose goal is to improve society by developing citizens empowered with an understanding of our democratic system. OCLRE is sponsored by the Supreme Court of Ohio, Ohio Attorney General’s Office, Ohio State Bar Association, and the American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio Foundation. In Ohio, We the People is funded in part by a grant from the Ohio State Bar Foundation. For more information, please visit www.oclre.org.
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