Photos at: http://inclinehs.org/index.php/about-ihs/photo-albums/category/31-state-feb-2010
You think you know more about the United States constitution than a senior at Incline High School?
Think again.
For the sixth time in 10 years, the Incline High School AP government class will represent the state of Nevada at the "We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution" national finals in April in Washington, D.C.
To get there, Incline's 17-member We the People class won the Nevada state competition Saturday, Feb. 6, at the Nevada State Legislature in Carson City.
The competition featured schools with much-higher enrollment figures, including College of Southern Nevada High School West, Reed High School, Canyon Springs High School and Bishop Gorman High School.
Milton Hyams, who instructs AP government and the We the People program, said his students achieved the necessary balance of passion and reason required to be successful at the competition.
“The founding fathers sought to eliminate passion from the political process, instituting a series of checks and balances to ensure reason and rationality were employed to make crucial decisions,” Hyams said. “For this reason, I'm always hesitant to say passion is the most important ingredient for success in We the People. It's more important for the students to strike a balance between informed passion and reason.”
Hyams praised his current crop of competitors, saying it did the necessary legwork leading up to state competition to ensure success.
“The students spent hours and hours in preparation,” he said. “I'm not even prepared to guess the amount of work they put in.”
“The preparation for the questions was really intense,” said IHS senior Lawrence Jolley. “As we continue on to nationals the questions are going to be more detailed and more specific. It will take a lot of work to get prepared.”
The 17 participants in the senior-only class were split up into six units of three kids. Each unit was assigned a theme, which had three separate but related questions underneath that theme.
Students developed three four-minute testimonies which functioned as an opening statement. Each of the three contestants read from the testimony, as the students decide how to divide the statement to showcase each individual's strengths prior to the competition's start.
“We the People develops a lot of different skills,” said IHS senior Erika Wegener. “It helps with writing, public speaking, thinking on your feet and you learn a lot about the American government and how to be a good citizen.”
Following the opening statement, students are tasked with a six-minute examination period, wherein they are provided cross examination questions by the judges and are required to spontaneously respond to the queries.
The contestants are not provided with the questions prior to the examination period; however, they know the questions will relate to the theme they've researched in advance of the competition.
“I was calm and collected prior to the examination period,” said senior Annamarie Marziliano. “Once the judges began asking questions, my hands began to sweat.”
Sean McClelland, a senior, said that the ambiance at the Nevada State Legislature added to his nerves.
“The district competition was held in a college class, but when you're in a huge building with all the microphones lined up in front of you, I have to admit I felt a little bit of pressure,” McClelland said.
All the students interviewed stressed the importance of teamwork in Incline's overall success.
“The whole competition is based on teamwork,” said Erin Canino, a senior. “If one person doesn't pull their weight, you'll lose.”
Even more, McClelland said teamwork extends beyond the 17 students and Hyams.
“Without coaches, community members, alumni, teachers and parents, none of this would have been possible,” McClelland said.
The 2010 We the People national finals takes place April 24-26 in Washington, D.C.
“I'm really excited to go to D.C.,” Wegener said. “I've never been there before. I hope to get to see the cherry blossoms in bloom.”
Hyams has taught AP Government at IHS the past 10 years, teaching at Reed High School for three years prior to his stint in Incline. He first became acquainted with We the People as a high school student, participating in the inaugural program in 1987.
When we was hired as a teacher of American government and American studies at Reed in 1997, Hyams began participating in the program as a teacher.
“I really enjoy the program, but I especially like what it does for students," Hyams said. “Instead of students constantly being asked what they don't know, they are being asked to share what they know. This is empowering for students.”
IHS "We the People" particpants
Below is the 17-member 2010 We the People class, taught by Milton Hyams.
Unit 1
- Ryan Lee
- Erika Wegener
- Max Wynne
Unit 2
- Bo Baker
- Annamarie Marziliano
- Sterling Vinson
Unit 3
- Sean McClelland
- Shanna Murray
- Sarah Scott
Unit 4
- Erin Canino
- Josh Dykstra
- Sean McClelland
Unit 5
- Michael Ceragioli
- Jimmy Sagan
- Sasha Severance
Unit 6
- Conor Bujeaux
- Lawrence Jolley
- Michaela Tonking
For more information on We the People, visit the Center for Civic Education.
