EASTHAMPTON — When children first start attending school, surveys across the country show that students are highly engaged. Those numbers drop off by the time students reach middle school and dip even lower in high school, according to state officials.

Though the problem isn’t a new one, in many school districts, educators have found that virtual learning and the COVID-19 pandemic has only exacerbated disengagement.

However, educators like Easthampton’s Kelley Brown have consistently been up to the task, thanks in part to a popular We the People program. Equipped with a curriculum that touches upon democracy, government and constitutional law, and includes an authentic assessment model in which students participate in mock congressional hearings, the high school history and government teacher has hooked juniors and seniors year after year into becoming more informed citizens.

“This is a good program , and I know that these folks will be a part of this for the rest of their lives,” Brown said.

Evidence of that engagement was recently on display when Jeffrey C. Riley, the state commissioner of education, visited Brown’s classroom this past week.

Superintendent Allison LeClair said she invited Riley to meet the class after they had won the We the People: The Citizen and Constitution State Finals at the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the U.S. Senate in Boston earlier this year. The win was the school’s sixth straight state competition win and seventh overall.

“I wanted (Riley) to recognize that these kids have done an amazing job. And the program itself is amazing, as evidenced by the continuous state wins,” LeClair said.

Despite a late-night arrival home Tuesday night after three days of fierce competition, battling schools from all over the country on their general knowledge of the U.S. Constitution and understanding of civics at the nation’s capital, students in Brown’s We the People class returned to the city high school bright and early the next day to share their experience with Riley.

One by one, students and mentors touched on topics they focused on as part of the 36th annual We the People: The Citizen and Constitution National Finals in Washington, D.C. The nationwide civics program is run by the Center for Civic Education in Calabasas, California.

Many also gushed about how they were able to connect the class curriculum with modern-day life and how state and local representatives also frequently stopped by their lessons.

One student, Klaudia Rivera, spoke of the connection she made with Easthampton At-Large City Councilor Brad Riley, who discussed the theory of schismogenesis.

“I really love talking about schismogenesis. … It connects to polarization in our government — It’s talking about how there are two different ideas and each idea competing against each other kind of gets more negative feedback, and I think that this really kind of connects it to today because we can see civil discourse not happening enough as it should be,” Rivera said. “The framers could have never really kind of predicted that this would happen, even though there was stuff like this happening in this period.”

Upon hearing Rivera’s passionate description, the commissioner asked her to repeat the word as he indicated that he had learned something new.

A rigorous competition

From philosophical underpinnings through modern application, students provided an overview of what they learned about and what kinds of statements they delivered in front of mock congressional committees before a panel of judges, several of which include judges, lawyers, teachers and professors. At first, students prepare some remarks to deliver to a panel, and then put away their notes, and field questions for roughly eight minutes.

As part of the competition, students are broken into six teams representing the six units of the We the People curriculum, including what rights the Bill of Rights protects and what challenges might face American constitutional democracy in the 21st century.

“What you guys are talking about today is a real connection to what’s happening on a daily basis, in current events, and the history of it … it’s coming alive for you. And these are the kinds of classes, these are the kinds of activities we want to see more of,” Riley said.

Though the class didn’t take home a first-place national title, one team of students earned special recognition for being the best unit three in the nation.

That team, which included students Kaelin Damon, Summer Collins, and Valary Martin, was recognized for how they answered the question: How has the Constitution been changed to further the ideals contained in the Declaration of Independence?

Collins said during the competition her team focused on topics like the right to vote, whether it should ever be restricted or denied.

“I think that just learning about the material in unit three … all that we touch on is seen at the founding, but it’s also seen today and those same issues affect us,” said Damon. “I think becoming immersed in that knowledge also helps you be a better citizen and a better person overall.”

Program support, impact

Throughout the year, Brown lines up speakers, mentors and activities, so that students can understand that much of what they’re learning involves real people and real jobs. Before leaving the national competition in Washington, D.C., students had the opportunity to connect with one of Brown’s former students who is the chief of staff for U.S. Rep. Mark Alford, R-Missouri, and have a guided tour of the Missouri office.

“It’s important for these students to see that if they want to do these things, they can. The opportunity to meet judges, to meet lawyers, to meet people that are making policy … it shows them that it really is real people that do these jobs,” she said.

Easthampton High School Principal Bill Evans said that the program that Brown has built impacts the entire community. Evans noted that each year Brown has a new group of students that achieve success at the state competition and are able to make connections toward their future careers.

Diya Bhatia, for example, will be interning for state Sen. John Velis, D-Westfield, and state Rep. Dan Carey, D-Easthampton.

The program continues to resonate with students as many return to Brown’s program to mentor or offer their time as student-teachers.

Braden Lynn, who took the class last year and returned this year as a mentor, said he returned to the class to have an impact on the lives of other students. This fall, he’ll be attending the University of Vermont and majoring in political science.

“Before I took the class, I had almost no idea what I wanted to do. And then after I took about a weekend, I realized this is what I would like to do for the rest of my life,” said Lynn. “I don’t think this will ever leave my life now.”

Jeffrie Surgen, who participated in the We the People class last year, said he returned this year as a mentor because he considered the ever-growing group to be like a family.

In fact, Brown’s former student-teacher, Molly Coates, participated in the class program through Zoom from India, where she is currently teaching. Brown and the class likened the program to lyrics of the Eagle’s song, “Hotel California.”

“Once you join this family, you can never leave it,” said Surgen.

Emily Thurlow can be reached at ethurlow@gazettenet.com.]]>