Local Students Win National Constitutional Law Championship, AGAIN !!!
Proving that least year was no fluke, the Rachel Carson Middle School won the National Championship last night. Last year’s returning champions in the “We the People” Constitutional Law & Civics program managed to surpass the top teams from Maine, Ohio, Florida, Oregon, Indiana, Arizona and Colorado. Gaining the nation’s top prize was a team effort, lead by the 8th grader’s amazing instructor, Cynthia Burgett. There were past and present parent volunteers, members of the local bar and even the principal of the school helping put the kids through their paces during their grueling state, regional and national championship preparations.
This was Herndon lawyer Doug Landau’s 3rd year as a volunteer teacher for this diverse public middle school class. Landau’s four children had each attended Rachel Carson. In fact, it was the only school his entire quartet attended, due to re-districting, G-T programs, etc. His eldest daughter was in the inaugural class of this Fairfax County, Virginia junior high school in 1998. Lawyer Landau volunteered when he saw the request from the Fairfax County Bar
Association. Starting in 2012, he went down Eldon Street on Tuesday & Thursday afternoons to help these inquisitive teens learn how our legal system works and how our government functions. And the 8th graders did not disappoint. Lawyer Landau notes that he learned from them as well and was energized by their efforts.
This excellent Constitutional Law & Civics education program has seen 30 million students participate over the years. Landau notes that “this is a program I wish that I and my own kids had had the opportunity to partake in as it makes participants better informed and equipped citizens.” Click here for more information on this unique national Constitutional Law & Civics program.