'We the People'

Glacier students advance to national Constitution contest

For many, the U.S. Constitution is a dry document.

They have a vague idea that the Constitution is important, even necessary, to government in the United States. Some might mix it up with other historically significant documents written around the same time, but many Americans know the Constitution is the one that begins, "We the people …"

But there are also many who don't realize the Constitution's relevance to their daily lives.

The Civic for Civic Education hopes to change that. Its "We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution" program encourages high-school students to explore the Constitution, the Bill of Rights and the foundations of American democracy. The program includes a competition in which students answer in-depth questions about the Constitution.

Richard Hildner's senior Advanced Placement government class at Glacier High School recently won the state "We the People" competition. They will compete next month in the national contest in Washington, D.C.

The program comprises six units, each covering a different aspect of the Constitution and the U.S. political system. Students must be able to answer three questions from each of those six units.

During the competition, judges will ask them one question from each unit. Students give the answers, which they have prepared ahead of time, and then go through six minutes of cross-examination by the judges.

The cross-exam is the most challenging part of the competition, the class agreed.

"There's no way to know what they'll ask," Martha Obermiller said.

The judges are all professionals familiar with the law and the Constitution, Jon Hammett added, so they can tell if students' answers are unsubstantiated or weak.

"If you try to get something by them, they call you on it real quick," he said.

The 14 students in Hildner's class prepared during their sixth-period class time - in addition to studying their regular AP curriculum - and for several hours after school. They held mock hearings with local judges to make sure they were ready to face the judges at the state level.

They went up against just one other team, Florence-Carlton High School, at the state competition, which was held at Carroll College in Helena. Competition will be much greater at the national meet April 25-27.

In Washington, D.C., Glacier will face teams from every state. The top 10 will advance to the final round.

To get there, the students have to raise more than $10,000, Hildner said.

It won't be easy, but the class believes the experience will be worth it. They already have discovered more about the Constitution and U.S. government than they might otherwise have learned.

"To me, it's a shock that our government is based on something that was written so long ago," Megan Leininger said. She added that she was impressed that the framers were able to write generally, but specifically enough to ensure that the Constitution is still relevant today.

Some have found themselves using what they've learned in the class in everyday conversation. Tom Rader recently corrected a fellow student who had said, "This is a free country."

"Well actually," Rader told him, "according to Supreme Court cases, our rights in schools are pretty limited."

The students agreed that the experience has been worthwhile.

"It's hands-on," Kristie Funk said. "What we learn, we'll take out into the real world."

"It makes us more conscientious members of the community," Leininger added. "It gives us a grasp of how government works."

Rader agreed. "Government is like English. No matter what vocation you hold, and no matter what you do, it will affect you."

Those who want to support the class may make a tax-deductible donation to Glacier's "We the People" team. Contact Hildner at 758-8600 for further information.

Reporter Kristi Albertson may be reached at 758-4438 or by e-mail at kalbertson@dailyinterlake.com