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TEXT ON SCREEN:
PORTLAND, OREGON
NATALIE (IN INTERVIEW): I didn’t know that much about the Constitution. I was very anti constitution. I had a pretty negative view of it because I’m like, why are we listening to all these old men that lived in the 1700s? But as I grew more engrossed in the history of it, I realized that some of the ideals were very beautiful.
TEXT ON SCREEN:
Each year, high schools across America compete in a civics competition.
It’s called We the People.
NATALIE (READING ALOUD TO HER CLASSMATES): . . . the Constitution and a constant adherence to those piety, justice, moderation, temperance, industry and frugality. You can clearly tell that John Adams wrote it, and it’s one of those things where when you can tell just by the style of writing, it’s like, oh, my heart.
TEXT ON SCREEN:
Teams are questioned on their understanding of how our democracy works.
ANGELA DIPASQUALE (TEACHER): We have very little time until we go to D.C. So that means that everyone has to be dedicated and committed to the task at hand, and that means being professional.
ANGELA DIPASQUALE (IN INTERVIEW): Last year we came in second place in the nation just behind Maggie Walker.
ANGELA DIPASQUALE: There was a big upset this year. So Maggie Walker did not make it to n ationals this year. They’re not going to be competing.
LINCOLN (STUDENT, IN INTERVIEW): What? No, they didn’t make it? They got beat out. By who?
ANGELA DIPASQUALE: So I just have to say, anything is possible. Right?
LINCOLN (IN INTERVIEW): Yeah. No, that’s. That’s interesting.
ANGELA DIPASQUALE (IN INTERVIEW): It’s very surprising.
NATALIE (IN INTERVIEW): It’s kind of scary.
LINCOLN (IN INTERVIEW): That’s very interesting.
NATALIE (IN INTERVIEW): It’s a lot of pressure.
ANGELA DIPASQUALE (IN INTERVIEW): It lit a spark for them.
NATALIE: Yeah, what does that say about –
JULIAN: That’s scary.
NATALIE: Yeah, what does that say about us?
JULIAN: Who beat Maggie Walker?
NATALIE: There’s some beast out there lurking in the shadows.
TEXT ON SCREEN:
Only the best teams will compete in Washington D.C.
SCHUYLER VAN VALKENBURG (TEACHER, CADEN’S FATHER): I had exactly what I wanted. Your unit did well and my team did better.
CADEN: My unit 4 beat your unit 4.
ELIAS (INTERVIEW): It felt like we put in the work.
JOURNEYLOVE (INTERVIEW): We got our We the People shirts.
BEN (INTERVIEW): It’s a fun shirt.
ELIAS (INTERVIEW): Our team kicked butt.
BEN (READING PLAY LYRICS): Then the spirit look upon us now, shall it not grieve thee?
ELIAS (INTERVIEW): And because we’re going to nationals, it’s just that much more of a boom!
TITLE CARD:
A RETRO REPORT SERIES: CITIZEN NATION
MARC MONDRY (TEACHER): The national competition gets tougher every year. And it’s the same schools that really dominate. It’s the Oregon schools. It’s California. These programs are just incredible.
TEXT ON SCREEN:
LINCOLN HIGH SCHOOL, OREGON
PATRICK (TEACHER): Okay, you guys know your plan. Please use your time. . .
PATRICK (IN INTERVIEW): Our school has won more national titles than I think any other school in the country.
TEXT ON SCREEN:
AMADOR VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL, CALIFORNIA
STACEY (TEACHER): That’s how many days we have to practice before nationals.
STACEY (IN INTERVIEW): We have always made top ten.
JEREMY (TEACHER): We’ve built a really good ecosystem.
CHARLIE: We have a small army of coaches.
PATRICK: Mentorship from professional attorneys.
PATRICK: We’re practicing every day. We’re going home and spending hours researching.
HANNAH: I’m like, this is one of my favorite things in the entire world.
NATALIE: It’s just so satisfying.
ANGELA DIPASQUALE: My students are so poised. You know, sometimes I think, oh my gosh, it’s just they are so brilliant.
TEXT ON SCREEN:
GRANT HIGH SCHOOL, OREGON
NATALIE: I also play folk music and sing in a couple of bands around Portland.
LINCOLN: I am president of the Asian-American Club.
STUDENT: President of our Science Board and Science Olympiad Club.
STUDENT: President of Local Leaders, Latinos Unidos.
STUDENT: The Environmental Justice Club.
STUDENT: Habitat for Humanity.
STUDENT: President of Bollywood dance team.
STUDENT: I do a lot of theater.
STUDENT: Data science.
STUDENT: I do like some woodworking on my own.
STUDENT: Track and field and cross-country.
STUDENT: I also play water polo and I do swim.
STUDENT: Marching band and choir.
STUDENT: Just finished building my own desk.
STUDENT: I’m actually interning for my local congressman.
STUDENT: I intern at a memory care.
LINCOLN: Minister in training at the Nichinin Buddhist temple.
STUDENT: And a few other random clubs that I hop around at lunch because I don’t know where to sit.
STUDENT: And yeah.
STUDENT: I’m also learning guitar.
STUDENT: We know we can win a national championship.
STUDENT: We’re constantly trying to be perfect.
TEXT ON SCREEN:
FOOTHILL HIGH SCHOOL, CALIFORNIA
GRAHAM MCBRIDE (TEACHER): So I did challenge you this week to –
GRAHAM MCBRIDE (IN INTERVIEW): Perfection is a difficult word to say because it’s like, you know, no human being can be perfect, but we seek as close to perfection as possible.
NATALIE: It’s like, oh, you can’t just get, I don’t know, 12th or something. You have to at least place in the top ten. But I don’t know.
TEXT ON SCREEN:
EAST BRUNSWICK, NEW JERSEY
MARC MONDRY (IN INTERVIEW): We used to be in that group of schools. . .
MARC MONDRY: And said that we should require a consideration. . .
MARC MONDRY (IN INTERVIEW): But like they’re just on a different level right now.
MARC MONDRY: Okay, what does a consideration mean?
MARC MONDRY (IN INTERVIEW): I’m Marc Mondry and I’m from East Brunswick. I graduated from this high school in 2004. The program at East Brunswick has a long and decorated history. Our first national championship was in 1998. My class won the national championship in 2004. Those are the glory days.
MARC MONDRY: Good job guys.
MARC MONDRY (IN INTERVIEW): But we haven’t really had like a top five or top seven finish in the last 15 years.
SUNJAY (IN INTERVIEW): My name is Sunjay. I was born just 20 minutes from here. I mean, I have fears of failure. So like yeah we won states. But I had trouble with it. I just don’t want us to embarrass ourselves at nationals.
SUNJAY: So Evan, are you coming or not?
EVAN: I’m gonna go ask my mom real quick.
SUNJAY: Okay.
RANIA (IN INTERVIEW): I’ve grown up with these people for so long. And we spend so much time together cause We the People has become like a really big part of my life.
RANIA: I don’t think Evan’s coming out. It’s because you’re in front of the wrong house.
SUNJAY: 56 right? We’re right outside your house.
EVAN: 64. 64.
RANIA: Oh my God.
SUNJAY: Alright. We’ll be there in a second, Evan. There’s Evan. Evan! Evan!
RANIA: Hey, Evan.
EVAN: Oh my God.
EVAN: Are we picking up Kenneth?
RANIA: No, Kenneth’s already there.
EVAN: That’s such a Kenneth thing to do.
SUNJAY (IN INTERVIEW): Our group, unit 4 is me, Rania, Evan.
KENNETH: Could I get a blue raspberry Italian ice? Um. Regular.
SUNJAY (IN INTERVIEW): And Kenneth.
RANIA (IN INTERVIEW): To describe Kenneth, he’s really smart.
SUNJAY (IN INTERVIEW): Kenneth is just good at everything.
RANIA (IN INTERVIEW): I think he very much takes, like a leadership role.
SUNJAY (IN INTERVIEW): Once I like, looked at his back seat. It’s just filled with books that he’s reading. And like yeah, I have books on my desk. I haven’t touched these books. Whereas Kenneth is reading all of those books.
RANIA (IN INTERVIEW): So obviously everyone called him, kind of like the valedictorian.
RANIA: Oh my god you’re freezing!
KENNETH: I am freezing.
SUNJAY (IN INTERVIEW): Yes, he’s ridiculously smart.
KENNETH: I’ve got to unblue my teeth.
SUNJAY (IN INTERVIEW): But Kenneth doesn’t know how to boil an egg or like, cook pasta. I’m kind of like the second in command underneath Kenneth.
SUNJAY: The best part is that I’m lactose intolerant. So you guys get to deal with me.
RANIA: You’re not lactose intolerant.
SUNJAY: I will start farting in the middle of our meeting.
RANIA: No!
RANIA (IN INTERVIEW): I would say our group is a little bit deranged at points.
SUNJAY (IN INTERVIEW): Like I knew it would be a fun group and a fun group dynamic. I was worried about the work and how the work would work out. For states the question was about judicial review. And it haunts me to this day, I remember exactly.
TEXT ON SCREEN:
NEW JERSEY STATE COMPETITION
TWO MONTHS EARLIER
SUNJAY: Well, I think the the most influential would be Marbury v. Madison. Um, where the word Supreme Court Justice, um. . .
KENNETH: To clarify what Sunjay is trying to say, in Marbury v Madison Justice John Marshall established that the court had the ability to. . .
SUNJAY (IN INTERVIEW): I was like, I really messed this up.
RANIA: Well, I actually would like to disagree with Sunjay because I believe that the Constitution, although it may be vague in the powers that the judicial branch has, for example, um. . .
RANIA (IN INTERVIEW): I try and forget that moment.
RANIA: In um, I’m blanking.
KENNETH: Um, to, to kind of add on. . .
RANIA (IN INTERVIEW): Kenneth. He’ll pick up if you make a mistake.
SUNJAY (IN INTERVIEW): Kenneth, if he wanted to, if he could answer everything and do it all himself. And so the biggest struggle that we have is not letting Kenneth do that. When it comes to nationals, our biggest priority is making sure everyone has something to contribute.
MARC MONDRY (IN INTERVIEW): I’m hoping to inspire them to get refocused. We’ve got this alumni dinner where we are celebrating the 25th anniversary of that 1998 national championship.
ALUM: Oh this is so cool. I can’t believe she saved all this. This is great. Bill Clinton sent us a note.
MARC MONDRY: It’s such a pleasure. It’s such a privilege to be in this position having followed a couple of true legends in the game.
ALUM: When people ask me how did you choose to be a political scientist? Like where did that desire come from? And I tell them it came from this competition that I did my senior year in high school.
MARC MONDRY (IN INTERVIEW): The students that come through this program when they leave they are so much more mature. But it requires buy-in, right, to understand why this is valuable, and why they should be doing it.
MARC MONDRY: I want to turn it over to Alan Brodman, my teacher, to say a few words
ALAN BRODMAN: These people. These wonderful fantastic alums, sitting in this same room with this class. Right back where this all started. As a teacher, to see where these people have gone on to. To see all of your faces, it is so wonderful. I don’t know if you could. . . that you can understand how important and how wonderful it is from my perspective to see all of you here.
EVAN: I truly think that when you have all these great alumni coming back, you start comparing yourself. And you start thinking, am I really like them? Am I truly like the greats who have come before me?
TEXT ON SCREEN:
CHEYENNE, WYOMING
ELIAS (IN INTERVIEW): We haven’t had a lot of money for a long, long time. Not having money just absolutely sucks especially in a capitalist society. If you don’t have money you can’t do very much. It’s just a whole, it’s self-perpetuating. And if you do have money you can do a lot more.
MATTHEW WALLACE (ELIAS’S FATHER): Love you buddy.
ELIAS (IN INTERVIEW): Even though all these other schools have way more resources allocated to them, Miss Lindt is still taking us to nationals. One of the lowest thought-of schools, by like, any other school in the district. We beat East. We beat Central, who have programs set up and more money than us to do We the People, and yet we still beat them. It was like a David and Goliath story.
ERIN LINDT (TEACHER, SPEAKING TO THE CLASS): Are you getting excited?
ELIAS: Yeah.
WE THE PEOPLE CLASS VIDEO: We are South High School and this is our teacher Erin Lindt. Horns up!
ERIN LINDT: I have sensed a lot of nerves about things. Okay? Don’t stress yourself out about it you guys, okay? The other teams have ten, 12 lawyers helping their team. We don’t have the same resources. That’s okay. What is our goal?
STUDENT: To have fun.
ERIN LINDT: To have fun! We’re going to D.C. We’re going to have a great time.
ERIN LINDT (IN INTERVIEW): It’s like the apex of the year. It’s the– what we work for, for everything.
ERIN LINDT: You’re going to grab one of these shirts and one of these shirts, okay?
ERIN LINDT (IN INTERVIEW): But unfortunately Mario dropped off the face of the earth. After state, Mario told me he wanted to go to D.C. Like, that’s the whole reason why he was staying in school. But after that conversation, he just stopped showing up.
MARIO (IN INTERVIEW): I didn’t go to school at all. So one day they called me and told me I’d been kicked out. I wanted to compete just to say I did it. Maybe even because I wanted to go to D.C. at one point, but then it obviously didn’t end up working.
MARIO: This is painfully slow. What’s the Fourth Amendment do?
FRIEND: Free the guns?
MARIO: No.
FRIEND: What?
MARIO: That is literally the Second Amendment.
FRIEND: There’s no way you said, come on.
MARIO: It’s the right against unlawful seizures, stuff like that.
FRIEND: Unlawful seizures?
MARIO: Yeah, like the police can’t search your for no reason.
FRIEND: Oh. . .
MARIO: What about the Fifth Amendment? That one’s an easy one.
FRIEND: So I remember that one.
MARIO: The right to not self-incriminate. I plead the fifth.
MARIO (IN INTERVIEW): So the fact that I don’t get to go to D.C. at all, but the rest of my teammates do, you know, it happens.
ERIN LINDT (IN INTERVIEW): There are bigger, more concerning things that are happening in his life that are beyond our control. I don’t blame him. I understand. But I also just wanted to see everything that he could have amounted to. I can only do for those who are there. So you focus on those who are there. That’s all you can do. You kind of got to let go.
TEXT ON SCREEN:
WASHINGTON, D.C.
TOUR GUIDE: Welcome. Welcome. All right. Let me be the first to welcome you to D.C.
TEXT ON SCREEN:
WAUWATOSA WEST HIGH SCHOOL, WISCONSIN
STUDENT: I love when there’s leaves on trees.
STUDENT: That’s such a Wisconsin statement.
JOURNEYLOVE (IN INTERVIEW): This is honestly why I took this class. It’s just a really cool opportunity that not everyone gets. So honestly I’m just really grateful for that.
TEXT ON SCREEN:
SOUTH HIGH SCHOOL, WYOMING
ERIN LINDT (IN INTERVIEW): Getting to travel across the country with 30 kids. It’s a whole new bonding experience. I tell them, like, you will never get this experience ever replicated in a classroom ever again.
TEXT ON SCREEN:
SHERIDAN HIGH SCHOOL, WYOMING
MIKE THOMAS: What’s the significance?
MIKE THOMAS (IN INTERVIEW): Bringing kids to Washington, D.C., some of them have never left our town, and some have never flown on an airplane before.
MIKE THOMAS: Everything in D.C. has some sort of symbolism. Okay? The streets that run this way are all state names. There’s Pennsylvania Avenue, there’s Wyoming Avenue to represent federalism and the division of power between the states and the national government. Everything has symbolism, all of it. It’s all done with a purpose.
ELIAS (IN INTERVIEW): In July I will be headed up to basic on my 18th birthday. Everything that I’ve done up to high school has led up to this point.
ERIN LINDT (IN INTERVIEW): This time in a kid’s life is intense. In many ways you’re like going through this transition where you’re trying to emotionally prepare yourself for adulthood. Where you’re like trying to find yourself, but you’re also like trying to separate from your old self.
ELIAS: Is it nice living in D.C.?
TOUR GUIDE: I love it. Absolutely love it.
ELIAS: There are so many people here. I love it.
ERIN LINDT: I think Elias, he’s grown into his own this year. I think he’s willing to look at things at face value.
ELIAS (TAKING A PHOTO): Who’s all getting in?
STUDENT: ELias! You need to get in!
ERIN LINDT (IN INTERVIEW): He’s like, well, I’m going to be active service and I’m going to help my dad afterwards start paying off his house.
ELIAS (IN INTERVIEW): I’ve worked for this and now I get to do what I want to do. Cause if you don’t take action now, you’re not going to be able to take action later.
BEN: Hello. We’re unit six from Wauwatosa West High School. Wisconsin State Champions. I’m Ben Nowacek, and I’m a sophomore.
ADDISON: I’m Addison Scharlau. I’m a junior.
HENRY: I’m Henry Green, and I’m a sophomore.
JOURNEYLOVE: I’m Journeylove Taylor And I’m a junior.
BEN: We are here on behalf of. . .
CHAD MATESKE (TEACHER, IN INTERVIEW): How often does a high school student have the chance to be named a national champion in any aspect, whether it’s sports or academics or whatever? They have the chance. It’s just up to them.
JOURNEYLOVE (IN INTERVIEW): I’ve really grown to love everyone in my unit.
BEN: . . . in doing so, increasing the scale of our voluntary associations. . .
JOURNEYLOVE (IN INTERVIEW): Ben is crazy. In the beginning of the year me and Ben would literally argue like, every single day.
BEN: …are 39 percent more likely to be civically engaged and vote. . .
STUDENTS: Yes!
JOURNEYLOVE (IN INTERVIEW): Like I can say, the sky is blue. No. The sky is cyan with a tint of green and a little bit of yellow. Like seriously. Like. . .
BEN: . . . emerging as a society that we need to bring us together.
JOURNEYLOVE (IN INTERVIEW): But, like I don’t think our unit would be the same without him. Because he knows so much.
TEXT ON SCREEN:
EAST BRUNSWICK HIGH SCHOOL, NEW JERSEY
RANIA: Evan used to go by “Ivan.”
EVAN: Rania!
RANIA: Actually it’s “Ivan.”
EVAN: OK, Rania. I feel like you say all these things. I remember it. I don’t even, I don’t
even know that you were in my class.
SANJAY: Mr. Mondry!
MARC MONDRY: Unit four. Ready to roll?
RANIA: Yes!
MARC MONDRY: Let’s go.
SANJAY: Are we your favorite unit?
MARC MONDRY: Can I wait until your scores come back to answer that question? Do I have to remind you that all four of you need all four of you to do well tomorrow? Maybe we should be building each other up. I know you’re tired. But, like, I think we can do better. I don’t want to listen to Kenneth straight for two and half minutes. As soon as someone’s ready, like give him the signal. Let him know. Hey. Wrap it up, I’m ready to go. That’s like, really important. I’m, like really kind of rooting for you.
STUDENT: I feel weirdly very calm.
JOURNEYLOVE: Right. But it’s cause we’re not there yet.
STUDENT: I’m feeling everything right now.
JOURNEYLOVE: Yeah.
CARLYNE: It’s such a great environment to like be in that room surrounded by literally–
JOURNEYLOVE: Other nerds.
CARLYNE: Nerds, but also like family. It’s such positive energy.
JOURNEYLOVE: Be for real Carlyne.
STUDENT: APSE is a nerd cult
JOURNEYLOVE: It is a nerd cult.
JAMESON: I believe I can get us to, not just me, but we can get to top ten. That’s what I believe.
STUDENT: Just Jamo can get us to top ten.
JAMESON: I corrected my statement.
HENRY: I mean, that’s goal number one.
BEN: No, no, no, no.
STUDENT: What?
BEN: I didn’t like your collar being completely inverted.
STUDENT: Oh,
BEN: You look like Count Dracula. Good.
JOURNEYLOVE: It’s a nerd cult. I get bullied for being in this class.
STUDENT: I do, too.
JOURNEYLOVE: They’re like, Oh, you’re in. No, I tried to get my sophomore friend to do it, and she was like, you lost me at Constitution. I was like, bro, this is a mess. It’s stressful. No, no.
JOURNEYLOVE (IN INTERVIEW): We have to win. We have to leave no doubt. Like we have to make sure that they know who’s really alpha here, who’s really number one, and that is Tosa West. And we have to show them that.
BEN: Ready? Here we go!
JOURNEYLOVE: Honestly, y’all. I like wearing the suits. I feel like I’m standing on business. Like. Hello, My name is Kamala Harris, and I am V.P.
BEN: You are V.P. Well, why not just be P. You know?
JOURNEYLOVE: Right?
BEN: You know?
JOURNEYLOVE: Right!
TEXT ON SCREEN:
WE THE PEOPLE NATIONAL FINALS
WE THE PEOPLE ORGANIZER: Good morning. Good morning. How are you?
ERIN LINDT: Good morning. We’re doing okay.
WE THE PEOPLE ORGANIZER: All right, guys, you want to come on in and head down to orientation.
WE THE PEOPLE ORGANIZER: Guys, they’re ready to take you, let’s go!
RANIA: Did everyone else get a pin?
STUDENT (SINGING): . . This Constitution for the United States of America.
MARC MONDRY: Alright folks. I’ve got these two rows.
CHAD MATESKE: It’s getting packed in there.
SHERIDAN STUDENT: I’m not even nervous. There’s no point.
SHERIDAN STUDENT: There’s nothing to be nervous about.
WISCONSIN STUDENT: Is that East over there?
JOURNEYLOVE: That’s East over there. The girl in the tan blazer.
WISCONSIN STUDENT: Wow, There’s so many Virginias.
AVERY: Come Skylar, come here.
WISCONSIN STUDENT: I think that’s the third place.
CARLYNE: In the nation.
CHAD MATESKE: What was that?
WISCONSIN STUDENT: The Maggie Walker teacher is here.
CHAD MATESKE: We found out about that last night.
WISCONSIN STUDENT: What?
CHAD MATESKE: One of the teams in front of them, I think, backed out, and I think they got in.
TEXT ON SCREEN:
MAGGIE L. WALKER GOVERNOR’S SCHOOL, VIRGINIA
CADEN: I’m going to climb over.
MAGGIE WALKER STUDENT: Noooo.
CADEN (IN INTERVIEW): So, it turns out there was a slight change of plans. After the deeply traumatic loss we suffered, it turns out a spot opened up, and we got it.
SKYLAR: . . . because it has to be approved by the Congress. And the Congress would never willingly relinquish their power.
AVERY: . . and what is that applicable to?
ALICE: I think a better conversation is the 18th and then no, we shouldn’t remove the 18th.
AVERY: The 18th? That was already repealed.
ALICE: I think we should do the 18th and then someone say we should. . .
CADEN (IN INTERVIEW): Basically the whole We the People team would be like, we’re going to nationals!
SKYLAR: You could say the third amendment.
AVERY: I would never say the third amendment.
SKYLAR: And I would say no. The third amendment is our most important amendment, because not only –
AVERY: What?
GIRLS IN UNISON: The third amendment is not the most important amendment.
SKYLAR: It is to me.
CADEN (IN INTERVIEW): It was kind of a mixture of just like relief and a sudden realization of oh no, we are way behind. We need to get working now.
ALICE: And providing one piece of evidence.
AVERY: One piece of evidence. So somebody else is quoting Articles of Confederation.
SKYLAR: I can do that.
ROHINI: Don’t drink caffeine.
SKYLAR: Just drink a couple sips.
ALICE: I’ll drink it one hour before.
AVERY: Half of it.
ROHINI: I feel like, like my thing is like, are you going to drink it all at once?
ALICE: Well, it’s a can. I have to just drink it immediately.
ROHINI: Okay. I think she should drink it now.
SKYLAR: Maybe, maybe slowly sip.
ALICE: I will determine how I drink.
SKYLAR: Popular sovereignty.
SKYLAR: See I was connecting the aristocracy of Avery in relation to water brands.
CHAD MATESKE: Control the controllables right. Control the controllables. All we can control is what we do in this moment.
CADEN (IN INTERVIEW): Of course there’s a little bit of nervousness because my dad is competing against me. But I only saw him for a brief moment at the opening ceremonies.
WE THE PEOPLE ORGANIZER: I know you all have spent hours and hours reading and writing and debating and discussing, and here in D.C., you’re able to immerse yourself in a level of competition that rivals the Super Bowl or the World Cup and now it is showtime.
ELIAS (IN INTERVIEW): We the people. It’s a very weird thing. It’s like a bunch of kids dressing up in like, business suits. You can tell that they’re kids, but they look really good in their business suits.
STUDENT: WHOOO!! Let’s go!
WE THE PEOPLE VOLUNTEER: New Jersey Wildcard? Next intersection, turn right.
ELIAS (IN INTERVIEW): Also this place where the competition is being held is very, very much like, It’s a maze. I got lost trying to find the bathroom, actually.
WE THE PEOPLE VOLUNTEER: Okay, go, right in here.
ETHAN: Thank you. Let’s go.
ELIAS (IN INTERVIEW): It’s like, oh, shoot. Hey, can you lead me back to Wyoming? And it was it was like right in front of me.
TEXT ON SCREEN:
SOUTH HIGH SCHOOL, WYOMING
ERIN LINDT: It’s hard to hear. Project that voice. Don’t stress. Don’t stress.
ELIAS: Cool. Awesome.
ELIAS (IN INTERVIEW): Some people had knots. Some people had like a weightlessness. I had more of a weightlessness that turned into a knot. I definitely think there’s going to be a lot of students that are going to be kicking our butt. I hope we do really good.
TEXT ON SCREEN:
SHERIDAN HIGH SCHOOL, WYOMING
SHERIDAN STUDENT: Are you going to use that?
MIKE THOMAS (IN INTERVIEW): Last year we were 26th in the country.
HARPER: Alright, ready, breathe in. Breath out. Breathe in.
MIKE THOMAS (IN INTERVIEW): The highest we’ve ever placed at Sheridan High School, was 19th.
SHERIDAN COACH KIM: The specificity of your answers has to be there. Okay. Do not use the word stuff. Okay?
MIKE THOMAS (IN INTERVIEW): But our team set a goal to try to make it into the top ten.
MIKE THOMAS: You want to walk out of here and go we gave it the best shot that we had, and we’re happy with our performance, and it’s out of our hands now.
MIKE THOMAS (IN INTERVIEW): You definitely get to know who’s who at the national competition.
GRANT COACH: You are going to be strong. You are going to be giants.
TEXT ON SCREEN:
GRANT HIGH SCHOOL, OREGON
GRANT COACH: You are going to be wizards.
GRANT COACH: You’re going to be elves. Nimble.
TEXT ON SCREEN:
FOOTHILL HIGH SCHOOL, CALIFORNIA
GRAHAM MCBRIDE: Knock on the wood. Knock, Knock
TEXT ON SCREEN:
LINCOLN HIGH SCHOOL, OREGON
LINCOLN STUDENT: She’s doing well. And we shall do well as well.
LINCOLN COACH: And you’re going to knock their socks off. We are. . .
LINCOLN STUDENTS: Chronic public debaters.
GRANT STUDENTS: Giants. Wizards. Elves. Giants. Wizards. Elves.
TEXT ON SCREEN:
MAGGIE L. WALKER GOVERNOR’S SCHOOL, VIRGINIA
SAM ULMSCHNEIDER: So just stand up and let those gears that you’ve worked so hard on oiling step in. Okay? And remember your job is not to give it the right answer. There’s not a single right answer.
CADEN (IN INTERVIEW): I have not been this nervous for a We the People round ever. All of this stress kind of just built up.
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GLEN ALLEN HIGH SCHOOL, VIRGINIA
SCHUYLER VAN VALKENBURG (CADEN’S FATHER): Guys, you know so much. I’m like, not stressed at all. This is great. I mean I know I’m not, I’m not the one going. Uhh, I’m not the one going, but I’m not stressed at all, man. We’re playing with house money here. You guys know a lot of stuff. Don’t be timid, if the judges get in your face, if the judges push you, go big.
For posterity. For posterity. For posterity.
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EAST BRUNSWICK HIGH SCHOOL, NEW JERSEY
RANIA: Sunjay! You’ll be fine! You’re gonna be fine.
SUNJAY: You’ll be fine too, don’t worry Rania.
RANIA: Oh my god. Encroachment.
SUNJAY: No. Fix the order. I don’t like this.
RANIA: Stop it. One, two, three.
SUNJAY: Shift it all one.
RANIA: What? No.
SUNJAY: No, one, two, three. You start from the top.
RANIA: No, it’s closest to me. It’s closest to me.
SUNJAY: No, you read, it’s like your reading.
KENNETH: No, but Rania. Rania, had you told us this earlier, we could have circumvented this issue.
RANIA: I hate you so much. OK. Oh shoot.
MARC MONDRY: Let’s go take your seats. Judges are here.
WE THE PEOPLE JUDGE: Good morning New Jersey.
STUDENTS: Good morning.
WE THE PEOPLE JUDGE: Good afternoon, Virginia.
WE THE PEOPLE JUDGE: Good morning, Oregon.
STUDENTS: Morning.
WE THE PEOPLE JUDGE: Good morning, Wyoming.
WE THE PEOPLE JUDGE: Hello. Please be seated.
WE THE PEOPLE JUDGE: Please be seated.
TEXT ON SCREEN:
GRANT HIGH SCHOOL, OREGON
WE THE PEOPLE JUDGE: How are you all this afternoon?
CHARLIE: Great, How are you?
WE THE PEOPLE JUDGE: Good thank you. Unit one, I hope?
NATALIE: We are now ready for your questions.
WE THE PEOPLE JUDGE: Could we make direct democracy more accessible today if we all could just vote on an issue on our phones?
NATALIE: I think so because voting fraud is very rare. Your chances of getting struck by lightning are higher than having voting fraud committed against you. And in addition we’ve already seen. . .
NATALIE (IN INTERVIEW): There’s this legacy of Grant making top ten every year. And now it’s like, okay, well, now we’re in the uncertain zone where anything can happen right?
SHERIDAN STUDENT: I don’t think that the Republican and Democrat represent the people. I think the representative in they’re, what they’re advocating represents the people and. . .
MIKE THOMAS (IN INTERVIEW): In competition mode, I sit in the very back of the room because it’s just nerve racking.
CUTTER: And I mean, when Liz Cheney, for example, took office, it was very quick, when she was there.
MIKE THOMAS (IN INTERVIEW): I have a very probably unfair warped sense of how it’s supposed to be. So if you think they should have answered the question a certain way and they didn’t, you’re just kind of on edge.
CADEN: It’s not just how the media focuses on stuff, because it goes for short sound bites, speeches, quips to try to draw the attention of the public, and it’s a lot harder to do that. .
NATALIE: America in and of itself is revolutionary and was trying to strive for these ideals like Montesquieu and the separation of powers. So it’s possible that we could do this again.
NATALIE (IN INTERVIEW): The judges are looking for citations. They want specific statistics with credible sources.
WE THE PEOPLE JUDGE: Do the benefits we get from using A.I. in the criminal justice system outweigh the challenges to the rights of the individual?
ELIAS: I would absolutely disagree with that, as I feel that having an automated system in said democracy, republic democracy that we’re in, will lead to fascism. As exemplified in stories like Starship Troopers and more recently, a video game called Hell Virus.
AVERY: If we wanted to change the Electoral College in any substantial way, we would have to institute something like the Birch Bayh. . .
CHARLIE: …have agreed to the national popular vote agreement.
NATALIE: For example Oregon is one of these states. And I think it’s very telling that. .
NATALIE (IN INTERVIEW): I get the same feeling that I used to get from playing competitive soccer. You want to have the ball on your feet for as little as possible.
ROHINI: However, today our parties are so polarized that I don’t think this will even happen.
SKYLAR: I disagree. I think we could get an amendment passed. The 27th Amendment was passed by a grassroots movement, and it was ratified with the help of individuals. . .
ELIAS: That it should be consistent with the fourth amendment, because that is very much a personal. . .
ERIN LINDT (IN INTERVIEW): This experience comes at the perfect time. Challenging kids to question themselves and reflect, I think is huge. Who am I? Where do I belong? And what is my place in the world?
LINCOLN STUDENT: Footage can help efficiently resolve criminal cases.
LINCOLN STUDENT: . . and I think that’s why we have seen the shift from the idea of evolving standards of decency…
KENNETH: The framers created a system based on David Hume’s assessment that it’s not about how well administered a government is, if a the successful government is. . .
SUNJAY: The other teams they’re all going to be perfect. And so we just can’t just be fine. We need to be perfect. We need to be like amazing.
KENNETH: Article one section seven has the presentment clause which requires the senate and the house of representatives to concur on legislation before it is presented to the president.
RANIA: I…
KENNETH: Sorry, this system ensures that policy is. . .
MARC MONDRY (IN INTERVIEW): You knew immediately that Kenneth had brought his A game. He came in and was on fire. But you don’t win without balance. Without real contributions from everybody
WE THE PEOPLE JUDGE: So did our founding fathers – should have been some mothers in there – but did they envision the gerrymandering that we have?
SUNJAY: I don’t think they anticipated gerrymandering. They believed in the theory of one vote per one person. And so when you have districts that are gerrymandered, some people’s votes don’t even count. For example, in our home state of New Jersey people go around saying I didn’t vote because my vote doesn’t count. The Democrats are going to win anyway. Why should I vote?
EVAN: I would have to strongly disagree with Sunjay on this one. I believe that the idea that one person, one vote only applies the very minority individuals, wealthy, often white landowners. We can even look at the three-fifths compromise. . .
MARC MONDRY (IN INTERVIEW): But then ultimately there was a transformation that day, where like things just clicked.
EVAN: Their voting power was not going to be actuated to the fullest extent.
KENNETH: To add on to that, the framers clearly didn’t intend for gerrymandering to be such an issue. In fact. . .
MARC MONDRY (In INTERVIEW): And you’re sort of in awe of what the kids are doing in that moment.
KENNETH: Political parties. So clearly they didn’t anticipate this being so.
WE THE PEOPLE JUDGE: So initiatives are a good thing then to balance all that?
RANIA: Yes, I believe that initiatives are a good thing because it does allow for direct democracy. An example of this, I believe, is through the legalization of marijuana. While it’s a controversial topic, it’s what the people have wanted to see in legislation for a long time.
MARC MONDRY (IN INTERVIEW): It was the first time all year that you had this confluence of all three of the other group members, Evan, Rania and Sunjay, getting onto Kenneth’s level.
RANIA: . . . pushing through that ballot initiative.
WE THE PEOPLE JUDGE: Do you believe right now we need somehow to rejuvenate our democracy? Do you think it’s in good shape? And if you don’t think it’s in good shape, what would you do about it?
SUNJAY I think civic education. Forty-seven percent of Americans can’t name the three branches of government. How are we supposed to have a strong democracy if roughly half the country doesn’t even understand the concept of a democracy?
MARC MONDRY (IN INTERVIEW): They came together to create something greater than any one of them was capable individually. Regardless of the scores. Regardless of the finish, these kids are capable of doing things, and capable of being people that they just weren’t capable of before. And they understand what it means to be an adult. They’re going to forget a lot of the content knowledge, but that emotional growth, that’s going to stick with them forever.
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WAUWATOSA WEST HIGH SCHOOL, WISCONSIN
JOURNEYLOVE (IN INTERVIEW): This year there was many times where I thought about dropping the class. And I remember we had to like, sell like, bake sale stuff to like, get money. And, like, this Black girl was there and she was like, thank you for doing this because, like, you make me want to do this. And like, I am about to cry but, like, I just really think that, like, I’m glad I stayed because, like, me doing this will help encourage other people like to do it.
WE THE PEOPLE JUDGE: What role does the media play in shaping the narrative concerning civil disobedience?
JOURNEYLOVE: The media plays a crucial role in determining the narrative for this. In the civil rights movement the Children’s March on Birmingham was televised, and this showed the chaos that the police were inciting on the protesters and caused J.F.K. to start the initiative to pass the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
JOURNEYLOVE (IN INTERVIEW): Being one of two Black people in the class is just like crazy.
WE THE PEOPLE JUDGE: . . . A law which we eventually decide is a bad law?
JOURNEYLOVE: A protester must be willing to accept the consequences of their actions.
JOURNEYLOVE (IN INTERVIEW): Because I feel like Tosa West is a very diverse school, but, like in programs like this and sadly AP programs, like, I don’t know why there’s just a lack of representation.
CHAD MATESKE: That was that was amazing. That was awesome. That was phenomenal. It was all the compliments that you heard them say.
JOURNEYLOVE (IN INTERVIEW): Because, like, two is flipping insane. Like, actually, like it’s insane.
COACH: I got nothing to say, you guys absolutely crushed it.
COACH: Well done everybody.
COACH: You absolutely crushed it.
COACH: I’m so proud.
BEN: I’m not crying, you’re crying.
VERONICA TAYLOR (JOURNEYLOVE’S MOTHER): But like he said, y’all know all these amendments in this constitution, you all have to use this. You have to. This is just, this is beyond a semester of school.
JOURNEYLOVE (IN INTERVIEW): And like, that really is my motivation, especially to get into politics, because, like, really, like I want to make a difference and like, I really, like this cannot be America. Like, we got to lock in and like, seriously have a difference in our world.
SAM ULMSCHNEIDER: One reason that I was so happy when we got this open competition wasn’t because I love to win things or compete, but because it gave me a chance to continue working with you all. And that is my great joy as a teacher. Is getting to see your intellectual growth and your ability to really tackle this stuff. So thank you for being such great partners in that project for me as a teacher, no matter how we do this evening. Okay?
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WE THE PEOPLE DANCE PARTY
D.J.: Hey guys, I love the energy. We can’t crowd surf, you can do almost everything else, but you can’t crowdsurf.
WE THE PEOPLE JUDGE (GOING OVER THE COMPETITION SCORES): My Top three are California, Colorado, Oregon.
WE THE PEOPLE JUDGE: I had Kentucky and Florida within four of each other.
WE THE PEOPLE JUDGE: Interesting.
WE THE PEOPLE JUDGE: Amazing the breadth of their knowledge, the depth of it.
WE THE PEOPLE JUDGE: And again, they talk about like their favorite historical figure as a woman like that, that stuck with me.
WE THE PEOPLE JUDGE: Yeah, I gave Virginia high points for discussion.
WE THE PEOPLE JUDGE: I think Illinois and Washington.
WE THE PEOPLE JUDGE: You know, I also like the fact they had just some energy and some passion.
WE THE PEOPLE JUDGE: Good presentation. Good overall knowledge. A lot of citations.
WE THE PEOPLE JUDGE: Which way did you go?
WE THE PEOPLE JUDGE: I had California Wild. Virginia Wild, Oregon Wild.
WE THE PEOPLE JUDGE: Yes sir.
WE THE PEOPLE JUDGE: Wyoming Wild is in. Illinois. South Carolina, Wisconsin Wild, and D.C.
WE THE PEOPLE JUDGE: That’s it. Keep rockin’.
WE THE PEOPLE JUDGE: You’re golden.
D.J.: One time everybody in the building, from the left to the right front to the back if you’re having a good time this weekend make some noise!
WE THE PEOPLE ORGANIZER: Hello. We the People people. I will now announce the top teams. Are you ready? I do not envy the judges the task they had today. The first school is California. . .
CADEN: That’s OK. Shocking nobody.
WE THE PEOPLE ORGANIZER: The next school: California Wild. The next school in the top ten: Virginia Wild. The next school in the top 10, Colorado. Oregon, Washington, Massachusetts.
CADEN (IN INTERVIEW): It was inevitable that Maggie Walker was never going to be able to maintain the first place forever. My dad’s Glen Allen team did well. They made the top ten. I was obviously disappointed but, as soon as we lost, my dad definitely was saying the right things. His words were comforting.
JOURNEYLOVE: I was blindsided because, like I thought, it wasn’t even a question like, without a doubt we’re getting top ten.
MARC MONDRY (IN INTERVIEW): It’s a tough competition.
CHAD MATESKE: We’ve known all along that this is hard. It’s hard. You’ve done exactly what you needed to do to come here this weekend. And perform. . .
MARC MONDRY (IN INTERVIEW): Because it takes so much, you have to be so smart, so motivated. . .
STUDENT: That’s life.
MARC MONDRY (IN INTERVIEW): . . . so dedicated and so lucky. To really make a run all the way through to win a national title.
WE THE PEOPLE ORGANIZER: It’s my pleasure tonight to announce the unit awards. For Unit Four. Come on down New Jersey.
MARC MONDRY (IN INTERVIEW): Ultimately our school wasn’t recognized with an overall award but for you know Kenneth, Rania, Sunjay, Evan they were recognized as one of the top overall units in the country.
NATALIE (IN INTERVIEW): I remember I’m sitting there, and our hearts just keep racing.
WE THE PEOPLE ORGANIZER: And your We the People National Finals champion are. . .
NATALIE (IN INTERVIEW): That was probably the most stressful thing that I’ve ever experienced with other people around me, all sharing all that energy together.
WE THE PEOPLE ORGANIZER:. . . Oregon Wild!
CADEN (IN INTERVIEW): I know we did good. I saw our scores, they confirmed it. It’s just like, we did good. It’s just other teams did better.
ERIN LINDT (IN INTERVIEW): We got roasted. Just laid out by the judges. That’s all right. The goal was to make it to D.C.
MIKE THOMAS (IN INTERVIEW): You know, the experience being in Washington, D.C., I’ll just, I’ll just sum it up. One kid said, you know, this has inspired me. And I think that’s worth it way more than the competition itself.
ERIN LINDT (IN INTERVIEW): It’s not about winning. It’s about good citizenship. It’s about authentic citizenship. It’s about producing the next generation of leaders.
ANGELA DIPASQUALE (IN INTERVIEW): They have a hope. And I think that they don’t see the world so much the way that those of us who are older see it, like seemingly falling apart. I know they’re going to bring heart and kindness and passion. The world needs kind people. The world needs people that are going to listen and not shut each other out.
GRANT HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS: Miss D! Miss D! Miss D!
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CHEYENNE, WYOMING
MARIO (IN INTERVIEW): My parents are driving up right now from Durango, Mexico. It’s been a nearly a year since I’ve seen my dad.
MARIO: How are you guys?
MARIO ANTUÑEZ (MARIO’S FATHER): Good.
MARIO: Come here. It’s been so long.
MARIO ANTUÑEZ: Oh, yeah.
MARIO: I knew you would.
ROSA ANTUÑEZ (MARIO’S MOTHER): Hi m’hijo. I’m happy to see you.
MARIO: Yeah, me too. I’m happy to see both of you guys. I know it’s been too long.
ROSA ANTUÑEZ: You’re skinny. You have your gown and have you tried it on?
MARIO: All right. I don’t know how to do the tassel stuff still so. . .
ROSA ANTUÑEZ: Why? What’s wrong with the tassel?
MARIO: Oh I don’t know how to do it. I don’t know.
MARIO (IN INTERVIEW): After I got kicked out of school, one of my counselors reached out to a program at another nearby high school that would allow me to finish my classes ahead of schedule instead of being in a regular class.
ROSA ANTUÑEZ: Is it tight?
MARIO (IN INTERVIEW): So that means I get to walk with graduation with the rest of my class.
ROSA ANTUÑEZ: You were pulling it back too much.
MARIO: I don’t know how to wear these.
ROSA ANTUÑEZ: Yeah that’s good. I’m glad that day is finally here because there were a couple of times that I really thought that you weren’t going to make it, we were like, Mario, come on, you’re so close. I’m so proud of you.
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SISTERSVILLE, WEST VIRGINIA
IZZY: I’m excited about the idea of college. But the reality of college just has not set in yet.
ADDI: I’m so excited.
LAYLA: I’m excited but sad.
LAYLA (IN INTERVIEW): It is bittersweet because I know this is probably one of the last times I’ll ever be with all of them in the same place, ever.
IZZY: I have lived my entire life like this. No neighbors, nothing around me. So that’s, a that’s a change.
LAYLA: People who live here have pride in what they come from.
FRIEND: The Appalachian pride.
LAYLA: Yeah. West Virginia. What are you known for? Low education or addicted to drugs? So we have to advocate for ourselves because we constantly are dogged on or stereotyped.
ROB SCHUPBACH (TEACHER, IN INTERVIEW): I’m just really excited for them that I know I can sleep well at night because those girls are going to make it. They’re going to be okay, and they’re going to make this place much better.
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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA
ELI: Daddy, where are you? Can you help me with my tassel?
ELI (IN INTERVIEW): I’m excited to go to school. I’m going into criminal justice.
ELI: How do I wear my cap?
ELI (IN INTERVIEW): But I’m not going there to get a fancy degree. I’m going there so that I can make sure I can help people the way I’ve always wanted to.
VICTOR: Okay.
ELI: Okay. And because we go to Southwest CTA. . .
VICTOR: Alright. I’m proud of her.
MARIO (IN INTERVIEW): It’s hard for people to get ahead, normal people. I mean, frankly, it’s actually just kind of scary because there’s a lot going on outside of anyone’s control. Any regular person like me. What keeps me going is the fact that I don’t want to throw in the towel. Life goes on, you know?
ERIN LINDT: Mario! Hello!
GRADUATION ANNOUNCER: I’m honored to introduce Miss Lindt. She’s a role model and a teacher that moves the hearts of many.
ERIN LINDT (SPEAKING AT THE GRADUATION CEREMONY): I want to speak to you about failure, because on your path to success, all of you will experience failure and disappointment. We must experience trial and error to improve ourselves. Failure creates growth, and you will grow more from failure than you ever will from success.
ROB SCHUPBACH (SPEAKING AT THE GRADUATION CEREMONY): There is two things about this class that are true. They do not like ignorance and they do not like apathy. They will learn and they will do. And that is what we need now more than ever in our country.
HANNA (TAKING A PHOTO WITH HER FRIENDS AT THE GRADUATION CEREMONY): Oh yeah!
ELI (IN INTERVIEW): I want to see a future where we’re actively feeling like we need to make change. You can always say, oh, I’m going to vote to change America. What are you going to do after that? Because there’s a fourth branch of government and that’s the people and you need to actively be a member of that branch.
ERIN LINDT (SPEAKING AT THE GRADUATION CEREMONY): I would like to challenge you to fail early and often. But more importantly, I dare you to overcome.
ELIAS (IN INTERVIEW): We all make mistakes. We’re all very human. Regardless of your political ideology, who you are, what you are. We are still all Americans. We’re all people. People are people. People inspire each other. We make each other want to grow and become better.
ETHAN (GIVING HIS VALEDICTORIAN SPEECH): When reality hit hard, I scrambled to find my own identity, my own way. All while racing the countdown to adulthood.
ETHAN (IN INTERVIEW): We are the next generation of this country. . .
GRADUATION ANNOUNCER: Elizabeth Fakoya.
ETHAN (IN INTERVIEW): . . . and I think we’ve inherited a lot of problems. . .
GRADUATION ANNOUNCER: Mario Angel Antuñez.
ETHAN (IN INTERVIEW): . . but I want everybody who’s watching to have faith in the fact that we will do our best to tackle these issues. We’ll do the best to give everybody a voice and we’ll do the best to make the world a better place.
ELIAS (IN INTERVIEW): I’ve been protected by my family and now I’m going out on my own and I can see the world for what it is. I feel like the world’s my oyster. I’m going to shuck it right through and – that’s clams, but grab the pearl.
(END)
