Howard County schools leading way in simulated congressional hearings

BALTIMORE (Map, News) - Looking the part of professionals dressed in business clothes, fifth-graders at Gorman Crossing Elementary School politely and articulately answered questions about what they learned about government this year.

“I feel freedom of speech is important, because you have a right to express yourself,” said Glen Taylor, 10, when asked what he thought about the First Amendment.

“I wasn’t that nervous. I know I studied hard,” he said afterward.

The school Thursday participated in the “We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution,” a national program that simulates congressional hearings.  The program, enacted by Congress more than 20 years ago, is designed to immerse students from elementary to high school in government, with lessons in the Constitution and its listed rights and responsibilities for citizens.

With 29 schools involved, Howard County has the largest number of participants in not only Maryland, but the country as well, said Corinne Gorzo, the school system’s coordinator of social studies.

Four other counties have the hearings, including Anne Arundel, with 14 schools this past year, and Carroll, with two, the only participating Baltimore-region schools.

“It’s the culminating activity for studying social studies for the whole year,” said Marcie Taylor-Thoma, the social studies coordinator with the Maryland Education Department.

The students were divided into teams, and judges including state Sen. James Robey, D-District 13, and school board member Janet Siddiqui assessed their responses to various questions.

“This is the first year you’ve done this — and what a fantastic start,” Robey told the students.

Robey was particularly impressed with how the students used U.S. Supreme Court decisions to justify their positions, such as Gideon v. Wainwright, which gives defendants the right to have an attorney.

Fifth-grade teacher Leslie Rivera said preparation was extensive: two hours of work a day during the past three weeks.

“Their preparation and work has really taken off, and they’re so professional,” she said.

“They’re ready for middle school.”

jkowalkowski@baltimoreexaminer.com

Advertisement