5th graders testify at ‘Congressional hearing’

Students from Michael Russoniello’s fifth grade class at Santa Rosa Elementary School testified in front of a mock Congressional hearing yesterday at the Maricopa Unified School District board room.

Students from Maricopa High School’s AP Government and Politics class commenced the We the People program, which is sponsored by the Center for Civic Education , by providing an exhibition for the crowd and elementary students who followed. The fifth graders took to the panel in front of a packed house of witnesses. They gave six-minute prepared statements on questions about citizenship and the United States Constitution before taking questions from the members of "Congress." 

“This event was the culmination of a year’s worth of work in civic education,” Russoniello said. “My students spent countless hours writing their papers both at school and at home.”
 
Russoniello called the event “the most powerful and meaningful experience of my entire educational career.  Most of the time teachers put in endless hours of time and effort into a child's success, but never truly get to see the fruits of their labor. Tonight my class held a simulated congressional hearing which required them to define and apply concepts they learned in class.  Many students were able to recite parts of the U.S. Constitution by line and verse.  What an honor it is to sit in a room and discuss politics in an open forum with the future of our great nation."

Among the first group of fifth graders to testify was Nicole Rocco. Rocco appeared confident and comfortable during her group’s presentation, but afterward admitted to having butterflies.

“It was scary,” the 10-year-old said. “I felt like there was a bunch of people just staring at me.”

MUSD governing board members, administrators and high school students all volunteered to judge the friendly competition as did several members of the community, including the well-qualified Pinal County Judge Pro Tempore Joe Estes. The judges took turns presiding over the high school exhibition and five fifth grade units.

There was an added bonus for Rocco’s and her classmates’ preparation of the event, which was shown live on Maricopa government access channel. “I didn’t know I would be on TV,” she said. “I feel famous.”

Participating Santa Rosa Scorpions:

Unit 1
• Rose Montana
• Leslie Reyes
• Nicole Rocco

Unit 2
• Clayton Detweiler
• Ashlie Richards
• Annisa Ruiz

Unit 3
• Marcos Leon
• Tyler Miller
• Timahdri Overton

Unit 4
• Jenny Arias
• Sophia Osbeck
• Logan Spaulding
• Emmanuel Valdez

Unit 5
• Elijah Ballard
• Ivana Crespin
• Lauren Johnson

Participating Maricopa Rams:
• Omar Barba
• AJ Beltran
• Karrisa Browning
• Patrick Duffy
• Fernando Estrada
• Bree Lockridge
• Brian Nechamkin
• Sophia Wahlgren
• Joel Wresh