Kahuku High School Rehearses for We the People National Competition

Pictured above are a group of Kahuku High School students rehearsing their essay presentations in the Hawaii State Supreme Court this past week. I was privileged as head of History Education Hawaii, Inc., to listen and provide feedback in company with a panel of judges from Hawaii's legal community.

We the People is the most extensive education program in the country developed to teach young people about the Constitution and the Bill of Rights.

The students have studied the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights for months to prepare for their roles as experts testifying on selected constitutional issues before a panel of judges.

According to a recent study by Professor Richard Brody of Stanford University, high school students who participate in We the People display more political tolerance and feel more politically effective than most adult Americans and most other students and are more interested in politics.

Administered by the Center for Civic Education and funded by the U.S. Department of Education by an act of Congress, the program is currently being implemented in every congressional district, the four trust territories and the District of Columbia.

Sandra Cashman, who runs the We the People program in Hawaii, deserves our thanks and gratitude for keeping this valuable program alive.

On behalf of my fellow history educators and historians throughout Hawaii I wish the students representing Hawaii good luck and much success at the We the People nationals in Washington, D.C.

Historically yours,

Jeffrey Bingham Mead