U.S. History students from The Williston Northampton School who are preparing for this year’s We the People academic competition will collaborate with students from Easthampton High School. The two schools will present a showcase of their research on the Williston campus on Wednesday, January 19. The showcase will begin at 6:30 p.m. in the Dodge Room of the Reed Campus Center, and individual hearings will occur in Reed 202 and 204 from 7–9 p.m.
On Saturday, January 29, students from both schools will travel to Boston and participate in the state-wide We the People competition involving 12 different public and private schools, sponsored by the Center for Civic Education.
To prepare for the competition, students investigate the history, philosophy, and contemporary development of US Government. Working in small groups, they prepare presentations on three different questions. During the event, the groups give one presentation each. Following their prepared remarks, students respond to a series of questions from judges and defend their ideas without benefit of notes.
Williston students have participated in this event since 1998 and finished in the top three places four times, including winning the honor of representing Massachusetts in the national finals in 2000. This year will mark the first time that Easthampton High School has participated.