Lincoln East Takes First at We the People State Contest
Lincoln East High School won the recent 2020 We the People contest sponsored by the Nebraska State Bar Foundation.
The Lincoln East team will represent Nebraska at the national We the People contest this April in Washington, D.C., according to a news release.
“We the People involves students in real-life situations and issues,” said Lincoln East teacher Kevin Rippe. “It puts students in a scenario where they have to think on their feet and use their knowledge as well as critical thinking skills to answer questions on issues relevant to our political system and our community. I have had students who have changed their college majors or career plans based on their experiences in We the People.”
The We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution high school competition was held Jan. 8 at the University of Nebraska College of Law in Lincoln.
The runner-up team was from Lincoln Southwest High School taught by David Nebel
Honorable mentions went to Lincoln North Star High School (teacher Jace Ahlberg); Lincoln Southwest High School (teacher Ryan Salem); Holdrege High School (teacher Chad Bailey); and Logan View High School (teacher. Nick Hegge). Johnson-Brock High School (teacher Dan Gossman) presented as a showcase.
Nebraska Court of Appeals Judge Francie Riedmann gave a keynote address. Other members of the judiciary, bar and community served as volunteers. At the annual competition, which explores the history and principles of U.S. constitutional democracy.
“Wow! I am so impressed,” Riedmann told the students, adding that the competition required them to think on their feet, reason, analyze and “take the past and make it applicable to the future.” The competition also promotes valuable life skills, she said.
“I urge you to stay involved in your government. You are the people for whom our government was formed,” she said.
Pam Hastings Carrier, state coordinator of We the People, said the We the People curriculum fosters attitudes necessary for students to participate as effective, responsible citizens and complies with state standards for civics and government.
In the contest, teams of three or four students presented essays and answered questions from a panel of judges. The questions included the philosophical and historical foundations of the American political system, the framing of the Constitution, the ideals contained in the Declaration of Independence, the influence of the Constitution on American institutions and the challenges faced by American constitutional democracy in the 21st century.
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