Looking sharp in matching blue shirts and name tags that read "Constitutional Scholar,” Chief Joseph Elementary School fifth-graders sat down with state legislators in Salem to discuss freedom of religion, civil rights and other big topics.
The trip May 27 was the culmination of a yearlong project at Chief Joseph designed to educate students by having them think about and discuss – not simply read – concepts underlying the U.S. Constitution.
“The more abstract ideas are hard, but we reference current events and activities in the school to put them in a language they can understand, so we break it down into more digestible ideas,” explains Carolina Martinez, a fifth-grade teacher at Chief Joseph.
The project is the result of a partnership with local nonprofit
Classroom Law Project, which provided study materials, T-shirts and transportation, and organized the Salem event with financial support from the Multnomah Bar Association.
To Salem they go
At the Capitol, the students – about 60 total – gave “testimony” on the Constitution before a panel of legislators, civic leaders and members of Grant High School’s constitution team. Each student spoke into a microphone for about a minute and a half, then answered questions posed by the panel.
Students (from left) Melva Perez, Dillilai Rekemsik, Phil Lougee, Kell McCormack and Jacob Timshell-Boatner speak before the panel.
Students were divided into groups specializing in particular areas: freedom of expression and religion, equal protection, civil rights and due process.
“I was amazed at how confident the students were in giving their testimonies,” says Principal Joe Galati. “They rose to this.”
Sample questions included:
- How does the Constitution protect freedom of expression?
- Why was the Civil Rights Act of 1964 so important?
- When and why are due process rights important to you?
Afterward, the students toured the Capitol building and met with Sen. Margaret Carter.
Panel members included (from left) Gayle Faust, a retired teacher; a member of Grant High School’s constitution team; and CLP board member Chris Magana.
The project is part of Classroom Law Project's We the People: The Citizen & the Constitution, a K-12 curriculum designed to foster learning about the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights.
Morgan Bennett, program manager of Classroom Law Project, credits Joe Galati, fifth-grade teachers Carolina Martinez and Eric Olson, and Assistant Superintendent of High Schools Toni Hunter for making the partnership a success.
Students from Chief Joseph and another PPS school, West Sylvan Middle, were among four schools participating in the simulated hearings.
Project began in fall
Preparation for the trip started early. Last fall, Martinez and Olson began teaching the Constitution using textbooks provided by Classroom Law Project, supplemented with plenty of discussion.
“Students get excited by the court cases that are current – things like the death penalty, right to life, Brown v. Board of Education. The ability to read whatever books you want to read, a case where a girl in a Muslim country isn’t allowed to go to school,” Martinez says.
She says students “got a kick” out of the fact that Clarence Gideon petitioned the Supreme Court by writing a letter in his jail cell. (Gideon v. Wainwright required that state courts provide counsel to defendants in criminal cases.)
Students practice with help of Nike lawyers
Nine Nike lawyers volunteered to visit the school in early May to work with students, discussing concepts assigned to each of the groups. Dan Blaufus described a scenario to his group of six students: “All else is equal, and a man is paid more than a woman.”
Nike lawyer Dan Blaufus works with students in Carolina Martinez's class.
One student wondered if the man worked harder, and another suggested that the woman may not need as much money.
“It illustrates the trickiness of getting students thinking on a legal level, as opposed to an emotional level,” says Blaufus, a former teacher. Blaufus says he loves visiting classrooms – but not for too long: “It’s like being a grandparent. You can just drop in and enjoy them.”
Students received additional practice in May at a rehearsal, where judges included Portland School Board member Bobbie Regan.
'A nice way to close the year'
Staff at Chief Joseph and Classroom Law project hope to repeat the project next year, saying students benefit tremendously. Not only do they gain knowledge of the Constitution, but they also learn to think, especially about abstract ideas, and hone their presentation skills.
Speaking before the trip, Bennett said: “It’s intimidating to get up and talk with legislators.
I’ll be intimidated! But the sense of pride and accomplishment they’ll gain is invaluable. They’ll all leave a couple of inches taller.”
The program also helps schools cover a subject – social studies – that is sometimes neglected.
“In too many cases, it’s viewed as something optional because it’s not tested,” says Marilyn Cover, executive director of Classroom Law Project, referring to Oregon’s statewide assessments. “But this project brings together reading and writing – things that
are tested.”
Students also had fun – although some expressed last-minute jitters. “I’m worried I’ll freeze up and start laughing,” said Melanie Thomas. Siany Hennessey said: “I’m afraid I won’t be able to read my own handwriting. That sometimes happens to me.”
But students did just fine. Said Martinez: “It kept students engaged and helped us coalesce as a class – it was a nice way to close the year.”
