By April-Joy McCann

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Sometimes a weakness can become a strength, which was the case for this yearís We the People team, who used their different stances on subjects to their advantage. The team placed second overall to Kahuku High School at the state competition held at the Hawaii Federal Court House on Feb. 9.

“I was hoping that we would win first but I wasnít too surprised. I think we had some rough spots and I think we all kind of felt and thought that we weren’t going to nationals, but I think we were all hoping because we did do well,” stated Junior Elizabeth Hamm.

We the People is a program designed to improve studentsí knowledge about constitutionalism and citizenship. It is comprised of six units ranging from subjects such as philosophical to contemporary political theories. The competition is a hearing consisting of a four minute speech and a question and answer period that is six minutes long for each unit. “My favorite part at the competition was the judges asking questions because thatís when we get to show them like ‘Yeah this is what I know,'” expressed Senior Megan Madeira, a member of unit six.

There was a school level hearing that was held on Jan. 30 at MHS. This gave the students an opportunity to familiarize themselves with the process. “I asked the current representatives and senators to come in and be their judges so they have a kind of practical interaction about politics with adults,” explained We the People adviser Amy Perruso. The team moved on directly to states as there was no district competition. Here, students’ judges ranged from state Supreme Court justices to lawyers and scholars.

This year, the biggest challenge came not at the competition but prior to it. Most units had a difficult time understanding their group members’ thought processes. “I think the most difficult part of the preparation for the students was preparation for the follow-up questions like getting to know the members of their unit. They became close because they had to understand each other’s positions before they walked into that session (so it) could flow more smoothly,” said Perruso.

However, those differences played to their advantage at the state competition. “Ironically, our differences became our biggest strength. In the conversations we had with the judges it was more interesting because we all had different perspectives. We realized that we donít have to agree with each other and disagreeing makes the conversation richer,” said Madeira.

Although MHS will not be moving on to the national competition, students feel that the experience has added to their knowledge. “I think, actually the unit groups, especially my unit group, we learned how we think. We got to communicate in a way that we wouldnít have without We the People,” said Hamm.

Perruso hopes that next year’s We the People team will be just as enthusiastic about learning more about the government and that they will be able to make it to the national competition.