At Harvest Park Middle School, a new afterschool activity has emerged: competition civics. Similar to the high school program, it works to encourage civic engagement and learning about the United States government.
“I’m hoping that they have a really good understanding of how our government was intended to work. They are voices of the future, of a really bright future for our country,” shared Nancy Brazil, an eighth grade block teacher and coach for the team.
Led by teachers-turned-coaches Nancy Brazil and Diana Gomez, the team of eighth graders is working hard. Currently, they’re drafting testimonies, preparing for question-and-answer sessions, and consuming as much information as possible.
“I just think that they have hopes for themselves. They see the bigger picture,” said Brazil.
Organization of the Team
The program is split up into different units, allowing each student to specialize in different areas of the government. From the founding of the U.S. to the importance of civic participation, it encompasses a wide array of topics.
“For the first few weeks, we went through the textbooks to learn the main history of the constitution. Now, we write testimonies on Thursdays and present on Tuesdays to prepare for our competition,” said Marina Kalezic, one of the eighth graders on the team.
Although government is usually taught in high school, Harvest Park is making a big effort to start the next generation of civic leaders early. Civic education is more vital than ever, especially in a world with increasingly less civic understanding.
“It’s really nice to see such a young group very interested in the topics that I’m exploring as a senior in high school. It’s a great opportunity to foster a new generation of kids with a lot of background knowledge in civics,” said Mridhula Kaliyur (‘25).
Setting up for the Future
Not only is this program interesting for the students now, but it leaves a lasting impact. Many will go on to participate again in their senior year of high school, joining a higher level of competition.
“I think this is a great foundation for them to go into high school with. Being able to argue their case, being able to come up with their testimony, being able to use historical background. I think they’re going to succeed with this, you know?” said Gomez.
Honing these skills is crucial for their competition coming up in late May. Additionally, the lessons learned stick with students throughout the rest of their lives, bettering them and the world around them.
“I know they’re eighth graders, but I feel like they know what’s going on. If they aren’t in the know, they’re going to have people who do whatever they want. You’ve got to be in the know, you need to know your rights. You don’t have to be a trailblazer, or out there on the picket lines, or out there protesting, but you have to know the foundation this country was built on and too many people don’t,” shared Gomez.
