Amador Takes Top Prize in State Civics Competition, Heads to Nationals

Amador Valley High School's "We the People" team were on top last week when they took first place in a state civics competition,

But the work is just beginning, said the team's teacher, Keldon Clegg, when asked about the next steps. The students must now prepare for national competitions, he said.

The team, made up of 27 students, is used to hard work. Clegg said in the months leading up to the last week's state competition, students practiced two hours every day after school and engage in mock scenarios.

More than 300 students from 11 high schools across the state participated in the competition, which tests knowledge of the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights.

During the two-day event, students divide up into smaller panels and are given three questions for a mock congressional committee hearing.

The panels must deliver eight minutes of testimony and defend their ideas in a rigorous question and answer portion by the judges, which include scholars, lawyers, civic educators and government leaders.

For example, students might be asked to grapple with a question on the separation between church and state. Just like in a debate, students need to demonstrate knowledge by citing supreme court cases and giving examples from history or current events to make their point.

According to Clegg  being part of a civics team allows students to be exposed to the world of law and government. He said students emerge more willing to participate politically, have higher voter rates, be in juries or run for office.

"It makes you confident," he said. "If someone makes you stand up for your ideas and slams you for 10 minutes ... you learn to how think quick on your feet."

Clegg said this year's win was exciting because the team went up against tough opponents, including and Irvington High School in Fremont, coached by Councilmember Cheryl Cook-Kallio.

"The caliber of teams in California is incredible and only one team per state gets to move to nationals," he said. "The fact that we were in the company of them [Foothill and Irvington] was humbling, it was exciting."

The national finals will take place from April 30 to May 2 in Washington D.C.

Jeremy Detamore, the teacher who led Foothill's "We the People" team, said his students were shooting for the trip to D.C., but finishing in the top five is also a great accomplishment.

"It is clear that this class has been about so much more than the competition and that the students greatly value the bonds that they've formed and the opportunity to dive deep into the inner workings of the U.S. Constitution," said Detamore.

Foothill's team will start tryouts soon for next year, he said.

Schools that received awards included:

• Second Place: Centennial High School, Bakersfield
• Third Place: Arcadia High School, Arcadia
• Fourth Place: Irvington High School, Fremont
• Fifth Place:  Foothill High School, Pleasanton