Two classes at West Seattle’s Madison Middle School are taking humanities/social studies to the next level. Next Friday, they will face three well-known West Seattle political leaders to present “informational panels” on two meaty topics, as part of We the People: Project Citizen. Local activist Karen Chilcutt sends word of the event, explaining that Project Citizen helps teach middle-schoolers about “competent and responsible participation in local and state government,” with participants learning “how to monitor and influence public policy.” Both classes include eighth-graders taught by Starr McKittrick at Madison; they each hope to become the school and district’s representative at a statewide competition in May, with that event’s winner representing the state at a national competition in Washington, D.C.

On Friday, they will “present their panels and answer questions,” according to Chilcutt, before King County Councilmember Joe McDermott, former Mayor Greg Nickels, and Seattle School Board president Steve Sundquist. The topics:
• To Eliminate Police Brutality through Crisis Intervention Training and Cultural Awareness
• To Eliminate the State’s Ability to Reroute to the General Fund Federal Monies Designated for Education

The students’ presentations are scheduled for 12:25-2 pm next Friday at Madison.