Constitutional scholars from Denver’s East High School won the school’s second straight national title Monday night.
The 27 Colorado representatives — a completely different squad than the last year’s winners — beat more than 1,200 competitors from 49 other states and the District of Columbia in the three-day “We the People” contest in Washington.
“It was very challenging,” Susan McHugh, a Denver lawyer who coaches the team, said via cellphone Monday night.
McHugh said students can compete only one year in the constitutional issues program. They spend “thousands” of hours studying and practicing government, the Constitution, history and current issues.
“I’d put these kids against any college law school class in the country,” she said. During competition, students portray witnesses and experts on constitutional issues in mock constitutional hearings. Students are graded on opening statements and responses to follow-up questions, including the strength of evidence, depth of understanding and reasoning.
