Education roundup: Bakersfield hosts state "We the People" finals
By The Bakersfield Californian
Kern County will host the state finals for the "We The People" constitutional education program Saturday for the first time in the contest's 25-year history. It's fitting, too, considering the area is host to two of eight high school teams competing for the title.
Centennial High School won the regional competition in December against 11 other local teams, while Arvin High earned a wild card spot for its strong performance. They will compete starting at 8:30 a.m. at Golden Valley High School. The event is open to the public, though seating is limited.
The state competition has been held in previous years at the state Capitol, but the program lost federal funding. Bakersfield's central location was ideal for hosting, and easier for the state coordinator -- local teacher Terri Richmond -- to coordinate from, she said.
"And we have the strongest program in the state," she said. "It's a natural fit here."
The program was kept alive by donations from Milt Younger, Owen Shaw, the Center for Kern Political Education, Golden Valley High School staff and students, and several local businesses, including Too Fat Sandwiches, Caesar's Italian Delicatessen, New Generation Graphics, Walker Lewis Rents, Kern Trophies, and Holiday Inn Express.
In the competition, students take turns citing court cases and constitutional passages as they answer multi-layered questions about the Constitution. This year's state contest will feature two rounds in one day, as opposed to three rounds in two days as in years past, Richmond said.
Volunteer judges will be travelling from throughout the state.
The winner will represent California in April at George Mason University outside Washington, D.C. An awards ceremony will be held at 3:15 p.m. in Golden Valley's performing arts center.
Centennial High this year snapped Arvin High's three-year streak of winning the county competition. Last year, Centennial placed second last in the state competition. Centennial has won the state competition four times, and Stockdale High has won once.
The deadline for Centennial High School students to compete for $2,000 scholarships in De La Rosa & Co.'s Fabric of Society competition is March 1.
Seniors from each of 25 high schools across California are competing. Students are invited to write an original and creative essay from 600 to 800 words on the observation by Maya Angelou that, "Each of us, famous or infamous, is a role model for somebody, and if we aren't, we should behave as though we are -- cheerful, kind, loving, courteous. Because you can be sure someone is watching and taking deliberate and diligent notes."
Essays must be emailed, faxed or postmarked before March 1. More information, rules and forms: www.ejdelarosa.com.
This is the second year Centennial students are competing. A different area school will compete next year.
-- Jorge Barrientos, Californian staff
For more education news, go to The Californian's education blog, The Grade, at www.bakersfield.com/ thegrade or follow The Grade's Twitter at twitter.com/TBCTheGrade.
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