Floor Statement Commending Findlay High School

FLOOR STATEMENT COMMENDING FINDLAY HIGH SCHOOL

Mr. President, on April 26, 2003, more than 1200 students from across the United States will visit Washington, D.C. to compete in the national finals of the "We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution" program, the most extensive educational program in the country developed specifically to educate young people about the Constitution and the Bill of Rights.

I am pleased and proud to announce that a class from Findlay High School from Findlay, Ohio, will represent our state in the upcoming national event. These young scholars have worked conscientiously to reach the national finals by participating at local and statewide competitions. As a result of their experience, they have gained a thorough knowledge and deep understanding of the fundamental principles and values of our constitutional democracy.

The three-day We the People national competition is modeled after hearings in the United States Congress. The hearings consist of oral presentations by high school students before a panel of adult judges on constitutional topics. The students are given an opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge while they evaluate, take, and defend positions on relevant historical and contemporary issues. Their testimony is followed by a period of questioning by the judges who probe the students' depth of understanding and ability to apply their constitutional knowledge.

The We the People program provides curricular materials at upper elementary, middle, and high school levels. The curriculum not only enhances students' understanding of the institutions of American constitutional democracy, but it also helps them identify the contemporary relevance of the Constitution and Bill of Rights. Critical thinking exercises, problem-solving activities, and cooperative learning techniques help develop participatory skills necessary for students to become active, responsible citizens.

Furthermore, independent studies by the Educational Testing Service (ETS) revealed that students enrolled in the We the People program at upper elementary, middle, and high school levels "significantly outperformed comparison students on every topic of the tests taken." Another study by Richard Brody at Stanford University discovered that students involved in the We the People program develop greater commitment to democratic principles and values than do students using traditional textbooks and approaches. Researchers at the Council for Basic Education noted:

"Teachers feel excited and renewed. . . . Students are enthusiastic about what they have been able to accomplish, especially in terms of their ability to carry out a reasoned argument. They have become energized about their place as citizens of the United States."

The class from Findlay High School is currently preparing for their participation in the national competition, and it is inspiring how these young people advocate the fundamental ideals and principles of our government -- ideas that identify us as a people and bind us together as a nation. I send these fine young constitutional experts my best wishes as they compete in the We the People national finals.