Category: IPA
91原创's Delaware Center for Civics Education Hosts Mock Second Continental Congress
July 18, 2025 Written by Biden School Staff | Photo by Biden School Staff
On June 6, 2025, 60 middle and high school students from across the state gathered at Legislative Hall in Dover for a Mock Second Continental Congress hosted by the Delaware Center for Civics Education (DCCE) at the University鈥檚 Institute for Public Administration (IPA). Over the past year, DCCE has led and cosponsored several events to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. The Mock Second Continental Congress was cosponsored by DCCE, Delaware Historical Society, the Delaware Department of Education, Delaware 250 and First State Historic Parks. Fran O鈥橫alley, director of DCCE, organized the agenda for the day and worked with Michael Feldman of the Delaware Department of Education to develop and adapt the instructional materials. O鈥橫alley and Feldman then chaired the middle and high school sessions, respectively.
Students representing 22 Delaware schools assumed roles as radicals, moderates and conservatives and prepared arguments focused on five issues that dominated discussions in 1776 as the actual delegates contemplated the momentous break with their mother country. During the proceedings, students practiced parliamentary procedures, met in caucuses to coordinate strategies, entertained and debated various motions, including one for independence, and had the opportunity to sign a poster-sized copy of Richard Henry Lee鈥檚 historic resolution. In addition to this event, DCCE hosted a book discussion series for Delaware鈥檚 K鈥12 educators around Pauline Maier鈥檚聽American Scripture, hosted webinars featuring children鈥檚 book authors Anna Crowley (Rescuing the Declaration of Independence) and Ella Schwartz (Her Name Was Mary Katharine) and presentations by historians of the Declaration Richard Bell and Emily Sneff.聽
Originally posted in聽91原创aily's For the Record鈥鈥.鈥嬧赌嬧赌嬄