We the People – Brown County Schools

Updated Dec 4, 2022

The aim of the U.S. Constitution is to establish a system of government that would provide citizens with the capability needed in working towards the ideal of “a more perfect union.”

 “Perfection is not attainable, but if we chase perfection
we can catch excellence.” – Vince Lombardi

A republic, if you can teach it. RealClearWire.com. An overwhelming majority of Americans, 89%, agree that a civics education about those founding principles is “very important.” And yet, a similar majority across the political spectrum, 71%, do not believe that their children receive “an honest picture” of American history in school.

This page is inspired by our Brown County Schools – “We the People” Team.  The  Team consists of students from the Junior High School who are a five-time defending State Championship Team in the study and interpretation of the US Constitution.

“The past 11 years, Brown County Junior High School has won six We the People state championships, two national runner-up titles and two national championships. (They were the National Runner-up Team in 2015 after being the National Champions in 2013 and 2014.)  The state competition will take place on Dec. 9 and 10, 2021.

Facebook: We the People Brown County Junior High and High School

 Nov 30, 2022.  ‘Being better citizens’: Middle school students prepare for state competition By  Corbin Parmer

    • A group of 24 Brown County Middle School students are preparing to compete in the upcoming We the People state competition on Dec. 5 in Indianapolis.

Jan 5, 2021. BCD.  We the People junior high team competes at state By Suzannah Couch

    • “The Brown County Junior High School We the People team competed on the state stage last month, but did not advance to the national competition this spring.
    • It never ceases to amaze me at how poised and professional they can be, or by the amount of knowledge they possess. I’m super proud of them. And while we didn’t place where we wanted to, they demonstrated class and a high level of scholarship for which we can all be proud.”
 Nov 21, 2020. We the People team places at regional, prepares for state By
    • Unit 1: What were the Founders’ basic ideas about government?
    • Unit 2: What shaped the Founders’ thinking about government?
    • Unit 3: What happened at the Philadelphia Convention?
    • Unit 4: How was the Constitution used to establish our government?
    • Unit 5: How does the Constitution protect our basic rights?
    • Unit 6: What are the responsibilities of citizens?
Nov 13, 2020. BCD. We the People team learns regional results  By Staff Reports . Brown County Junior High School has made it to the state competition in the We the People contest.

Dec 17, 2019.  ‘You’re all winners’: We the People places third at state  By

Dec 17, 2019. SUPERINTENDENT’S CORNER: Team’s knowledge advances ‘a more perfect union’ By Laura Hammack

 Dec 4, 2018.  Program teaches civic duties: We the People students going to state next week On Dec. 11, these students will take their constitutional knowledge to the state stage when they compete against 14 other schools at the We the People state competition. The winner will go on to compete on the national stage in Washington, D.C., next spring.

Dec 4, 2018. SUPERINTENDENT’S CORNER: We the People make Brown County proud  In case you aren’t familiar with this program, a team of our eighth-grade students at Brown County Junior High School are led under the expert leadership of social studies teacher, Mr. Michael Potts, through a comprehensive curriculum, “We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution.”

The units of study for which students prepare are as follows:

    • Unit 1: What were the founders’ basic ideas about government?
    • Unit 2: What shaped the founders’ thinking about government?
    • Unit 3: What happened at the Philadelphia Convention?
    • Unit 4: How was the Constitution used to establish our government?
    • Unit 5: How does the Constitution protect our basic rights?
    • Unit 6: What are the responsibilities of citizens?