Summer Institute Program
July 20-23, 2008
The State Bar of Wisconsin is pleased to announce a We the People... The Citizen and the Constitution summer institute.
The institute is an intensive professional development program on the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights. Participants take part in lectures
and discussions on constitutional themes pertinent to the curriculum content, classroom strategies, and performance assessment.
An essential component of the institute is teacher preparation and participation in a simulated congressional hearing as a culminating activity. The
hearing is a model for student hearings to be held during the school year. Experienced teacher mentors assist participants in discussing the challenges
of teaching civic education and preparing for the culminating hearing.
Purpose
The purpose of this institute is to prepare upper elementary, middle, and high school teachers to implement the We the People... The Citizen and the Constitution
curriculum. The institute offers training for participants in content, teaching strategies, and performance assessment for this nationally acclaimed program.
Teachers from across Wisconsin attended the third "We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution Wisconsin Summer Institute"
program at the State Bar Center in Madison in July 2004.
Overview
We the People... The Citizen and the Constitution helps students understand the history and principles of our
constitutional government. The program focuses on the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights and fosters civic competence and responsibility
among elementary, middle, and high school students in public and private schools nationwide.
The institute is a rigorous professional development program that brings teachers together to work with constitutional scholars from a variety of disciplines.
Teachers attend lectures and sessions dedicated to teaching methods appropriate to the We the People... curriculum. They also participate in a simulated
congressional hearing modeled on the We the People... culminating activity.
Lecture, teaching method, and assessment content include the following topics:
- What Are the Historical and Philosophical Foundations of the American Political System?
- How Did the Framers Create the Constitution?
- How Did the Values and Principles Embodied in the Constitution Shape American Institutions and Practices?
- How Have the Protections of the Bill of Rights Been Developed and Expanded?
- What Rights Does the Bill of Rights Protect?
- What Are the Roles of the Citizen in American Democracy?
Eligibilitiy
Educators from upper elementary, middle, and high schools, both public and private, are eligible to apply. Twenty-four teachers will be selected to attend.
Location
The institute will be held at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville. Lodging will be provided within a two-block walk from the institute.
Participation
There is a registration fee of $50 due upon acceptance to the institute. Participants will receive:
- registration materials
- lodging and meals
- a library of Constitutional literature
- a classroom set of textbooks and other resources for classroom use
Participation in the institute-professional development worth more than $2000-obligates the recipient to conduct a simulated congressional hearing in
his/her classroom. State and congressional district coordinators for We the People... will assist with this and other program implementation.
Graduate Credit
Three hours of graduate credit are available through the University of Wisconsin - Platteville for a fee. Additional information regarding graduate credit and fees
will be available at a later date.
Contact
Bev Vaillancourt
We the People District Coordinator
(608) 697-0191
email: bv@mwt.net
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