A sweet lesson in civic education

MILFORD, N.H. – Members of the Milford High School We the People team were up early Tuesday morning selling sweets to primary voters to raise money for an upcoming trip to Washington, D.C.

An academic competition that promotes civic engagement among high school students, We the People members prepare arguments as if they are participating in a congressional hearing.

The team, which has won five consecutive state championships, is preparing for the national competition held this April in Washington.

Dave Alcox coaches the team of juniors and senior each of whom takes his Advanced Placement U.S. Government and Politics class in the fall and prepares for competition in the spring.

The team’s success has allowed the students to meet with many prominent politicians, including many of the Democratic and Republican presidential candidates.

“I teach my students that anyone who is running deserves respect,” Alcox said.

The available treats include Bernie Brownies, Carly Cupcakes and cookies featuring the New Hampshire state seal. All the treats are bought from and packaged by a local bakery.

“As New Hampshire-ites, we just get pounded with all this stuff,” said senior Joseph DeGraffenried. “People get a sense that they should show up.”

Foreign exchange student Bojan Jovanovic, also a team member said the class “really helped … realize how important civic education is.”

Alcox said that many of his former students go on to have careers in civic engagement.

“They see that it’s real and that it means something,” he said.