A very special congratulations to the 130 students who participated in the We The People Congressional Hearings Simulations on Thursday, May 26 at the US 19th Judicial Court House. The students representing their schools and classes (from grades 5 – 7) convened to share what they had learned over the past few months with ten We The People judges.
The court administration/coordinator, Diane Flory, assigned five courtrooms for the day with bailiffs for the congressional hearings. Upon arrival each class went to their assigned room awaiting their first group of judges. The students prepared their studies and responses to the following questions:
Congress has formed a congressional committee. This committee will examine the United States Constitution and the purposes of government. The members of your group are expert witnesses who will appear before the committee. You will be asked to testify on the following question.
Unit 1: According to the Founders, what are the basic purposes of government?
Unit 2: What major conflicts required the Framers at the Philadelphia Convention to make compromises?
Unit 3: How did the Framers use separation of powers and checks and balances to limit the powers of government?
Unit 4: Are there times when freedom of expression should be limited? Why or why not? Give examples.
Unit 5: What responsibilities go along with the rights of citizens?
Students had to research and prepare in-depth responses to the questions along with six follow-up questions that judges could ask.
Ten judges heard the school team presentations and rated them based on content and presentation skills as well.
This year's competition was held with five schools new to the WTP Program - Alexander Graham Bell School of Chicago, St. Sava Dual Language Academy of Chicago, and three classes from the Andrew Cooke Magnet School of Waukegan. The We The People Program is hosted annually by the IL Center for Civic Education, which is funded by the McCormick Foundation. Anne Krosnjar is the northern IL, We The People, program rep. She has hosted fall and spring competitive hearings for elementary, middle and high school students.
Students were ready to present in courtroom settings by 9:30 AM. After the hearings were held, all the classes came together in the Jury Assembly Room in the courthouse. There they had lunch while judges tallied the student presentation scores. A brief program was held that featured greetings by the Chief Judge of the Court - Jorge Ortiz, Clerk of the Circuit Court - Keith Brin, Jennifer Blackman Director of the IL Center for Civic Education, Dr. Mary Lamping - Assistant Superintendent for Waukegan Schools. and Dr. Sharon LaViolette - retired principal who is responsible for the participation of Waukegan Schools in the program. Mr. Keith Brin is also a former student of Mrs. Krosnjar, while she was teaching in the Highland Park, IL School District.
We The People is a fantastic academic event and way to end a great school year. Any teachers and classes interested in the program and spring hearings can contact, Anne Krosnjar at alkrosnjar@gmail.com or at 847-477-1537.
A very special thank you to the McCormick Foundation for their support of the hearings and the We The People Program.
The court administration/coordinator, Diane Flory, assigned five courtrooms for the day with bailiffs for the congressional hearings. Upon arrival each class went to their assigned room awaiting their first group of judges. The students prepared their studies and responses to the following questions:
Congress has formed a congressional committee. This committee will examine the United States Constitution and the purposes of government. The members of your group are expert witnesses who will appear before the committee. You will be asked to testify on the following question.
Unit 1: According to the Founders, what are the basic purposes of government?
Unit 2: What major conflicts required the Framers at the Philadelphia Convention to make compromises?
Unit 3: How did the Framers use separation of powers and checks and balances to limit the powers of government?
Unit 4: Are there times when freedom of expression should be limited? Why or why not? Give examples.
Unit 5: What responsibilities go along with the rights of citizens?
Students had to research and prepare in-depth responses to the questions along with six follow-up questions that judges could ask.
Ten judges heard the school team presentations and rated them based on content and presentation skills as well.
This year's competition was held with five schools new to the WTP Program - Alexander Graham Bell School of Chicago, St. Sava Dual Language Academy of Chicago, and three classes from the Andrew Cooke Magnet School of Waukegan. The We The People Program is hosted annually by the IL Center for Civic Education, which is funded by the McCormick Foundation. Anne Krosnjar is the northern IL, We The People, program rep. She has hosted fall and spring competitive hearings for elementary, middle and high school students.
Students were ready to present in courtroom settings by 9:30 AM. After the hearings were held, all the classes came together in the Jury Assembly Room in the courthouse. There they had lunch while judges tallied the student presentation scores. A brief program was held that featured greetings by the Chief Judge of the Court - Jorge Ortiz, Clerk of the Circuit Court - Keith Brin, Jennifer Blackman Director of the IL Center for Civic Education, Dr. Mary Lamping - Assistant Superintendent for Waukegan Schools. and Dr. Sharon LaViolette - retired principal who is responsible for the participation of Waukegan Schools in the program. Mr. Keith Brin is also a former student of Mrs. Krosnjar, while she was teaching in the Highland Park, IL School District.
We The People is a fantastic academic event and way to end a great school year. Any teachers and classes interested in the program and spring hearings can contact, Anne Krosnjar at alkrosnjar@gmail.com or at 847-477-1537.
A very special thank you to the McCormick Foundation for their support of the hearings and the We The People Program.
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