Archive-Name: gov/us/fed/congress/record/2001/jun/07/2001CRS5961A
[Congressional Record: June 7, 2001 (Senate)]
[Page S5961]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:cr07jn01-141]                        

                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

                                 ______

               POLSON HIGH SCHOOL ``WE THE PEOPLE'' GROUP

<bullet> Mr. BAUCUS. Mr. President, on April 21-23, 2001 more than 1200
students from across the country came to Washington, D.C. to compete in
the national finals of the ``We the People . . . The Citizen and the
Constitution program.'' I am proud to announce that one of the classes
that competed was from Polson High School in Polson, MT.
  The students that participated are: Curt Bertsch, Luke Bradshaw, Brad
Briney, Amy Herak, Jackie Johnson, Ray Kneeland, Mindy Koopmans, Maggie
Liebschutz, Tim Mains, Levi Mazurek, Ashley Miedinger, Joey Moholt,
Cuinn Morgen, Nolan Mowbray, Toby Nelson, Kevin O'Brien, Kati O'Toole,
Becky Owen, Stephen Pitts, Jeri Rafter, Kate Tiskus, Luke Venters, and
Jason Wies.
  I would also like to recognize, their teacher, Bob Hislop. Bob brings
students to the national competition almost every year; his efforts
have been a major asset to Polson High School and the State of Montana.
  For the students involved, the national competition was the
culmination of months spent studying the Constitution. It lasted three
days, and was modeled after a Congressional hearing. Students were the
``witnesses,'' and they made oral presentations before a panel of
judges--the ``committee.'' Afterwards, the judges asked questions
designed to probe each competitor's knowledge of several different
Constitution-related categories.
  In addition, the Polson High group got an opportunity to meet members
of Congress and visit sites of historic and cultural significance in
Washington, D.C. The competition may have been the highlight, but for
most students the trip itself was an educational and exciting
experience.
  The ``We the People'' program is directed by the Center for Civic
Education, and it has been extremely successful. Several studies show
that students who participate in We the People are substantially better
informed about American Politics than those who do not. They are also
more likely to register to vote, be more confident in their rights as
citizens, and be more tolerant of other's viewpoints.
  Let me again congratulate the Polson High group for their hard work.
Montana is proud of them.<bullet>

                          ____________________