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THE NEW YORK
BAR FOUNDATION

2008 We the People New York State Tournament

Long Island high school wins its 13th state title since 1988

By Brandon J. Vogel

Half Hollow Hills High School East, Dix Hills, won the 2008 New York State We the People: the Citizen and Constitution competition, held at the Desmond Conference Center in Albany on March 8th. Resulting from their victory, Half Hollow Hills students will compete in the We the People National Finals in Arlington, VA, from May 3 to 5. Along with other attorneys and teachers, Past President A. Thomas Levin of Rockville Centre (Meyer Suozzi English & Klein, PC) and Associate Executive Director John A. Williamson served as tournament judges.

The Event
More than 200 students from nine high schools, ranging from Long Island to the Buffalo area, competed in six 20-minute question rounds throughout the day. This year’s questions included: evaluating the Magna Carta and its contribution to the development of constitutional government, analyzing the strengths and weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation, and debating the role of the Second Amendment in American society. Students were scored on poise, knowledge, the ability to think on their feet, and connecting the Constitution to modern times.
After ending Half Hollow Hills’ nine-year winning streak last year, Edward R. Murrow High School, Brooklyn, sought to defend their title as state champions. In a very tight race, Half Hollow Hills emerged victorious while Murrow placed second. Stuyvesant High School, New York, came in third place.

The Process
We the People is an intensive curriculum sponsored by the New York State Bar Association that provides students with a fundamental understanding of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. The primary goal of the program is to promote civic competence and responsibility among the nation's elementary and secondary students.
The Association’s Law, Youth and Citizenship program is the state administrator of the grant, funded by the U.S. Department of Education under the Education for Democracy Act of Congress through the Center for Civic Education and the New York State Bar Association. Teachers gain resources, textbooks and professional development at no cost. Students practice for months learning the Constitution through We the People materials and compete in local level tournaments. Following their victories in regional tournaments, selected high schools go on to compete in the statewide competition.

28 Million Strong and Growing…
Since the inception of the We the People program in 1987, more than 28 million students and 90,000 educators have participated in this innovative course of study.
For more information, please contact: lyc@nysba.org.

Vogel is NYSBA’s Media Writer.