Making Every Day Constitution Day

Published on Wednesday, August 20, 2008
ARTICLES

September 17 is Constitution Day. To honor and uphold that document's principles, the Bill of Rights Institute offers SPN members the resources to lead the celebration in their states.

A last-minute provision to the Consolidated Appropriation Act, 2005 transformed Constitution Day from a rarely recognized date into a major opportunity to educate Americans about individual liberty, limited government and responsibilities of citizenship. This federal law requires schools - from kindergarten through university - that receive any federal funding to teach students about the United States Constitution on September 17. This requirement creates a demand for information that is easily accessible, accurate and engaging to students as well as a general audience.

In response, the Bill of Rights Institute has developed a wide range of web-based activities. These include an interactive Constitution Day Quiz, Constitution Jeopardy, Constitution Crossword Puzzle and a flash animated game "Madison's Notes are Missing" that transports players back in time to interview with Constitutional Convention delegates.

In addition, BRI spotlights the wisdom of the Founders with Founders Online. This page offers portraits, short biographies and thought-provoking quotations from the great Americans who shaped our Constitution.

The Bill of Rights Institute invites state-focused think tanks to download and print any or all of the 12-page Celebrate the Constitution booklet as an educational handout or inclusion in a newsletter. Middle and high school level Constitution Day lesson plans with topics ranging from First Amendment freedoms to American heroes who define what it means to be an American are also available to SPN members who may wish to offer educational tools to teachers or parents. All of these resources can be linked to, or embedded in, websites. See www.BillofRightsInstitute.org/ConstitutionDay.

Since its founding in 1999, the Bill of Rights Institute has focused on increasing young Americans' knowledge of the Constitution, the Founders and the rights and responsibilities of citizenship. Working with a network of constitutional scholars and outstanding classroom teachers, the Bill of Rights Institute is reaching one-third of the high school and middle school American history, civics and American government classrooms. More than 35,000 teachers from all 50 states have registered to receive our printed instructional material and electronic eLessons. In addition, over 13,000 teachers have attended our Constitutional Seminars conducted in 45 states and the District of Columbia to increase their own background knowledge of America's founding principles.

In 2006, the Bill of Rights Institute launched a variety of student programs to engage young people directly with these important ideas. BRI student programs includes a website DoYouHavetheRight.org, Constitutional Academies in Washington, D.C. for high school students, and a Constitution Bee patterned after the National Spelling Bee.

Our largest student program, the Being an American Essay Contest, challenges high school students to reflect on the civic values that most define our American character. In 2008, over 13,000 students from 19 states responded by writing essays citing great Americans including George Washington, Thomas Edison and William Lloyd Garrison and focusing on responsibility, respect, courage, perseverance and love of Liberty. The contest will be available to students in all 50 states this fall.

In 2009, 90 prizes will be awarded to Being an American Essay Contest winners and their teachers totaling nearly $200,000. Also, the top 27 essayists and their teachers will win an all expenses paid trip to Washington, D.C. where they will participate in an educational program on America's Founding principles March 29-31, 2009.

Alabama Policy Institute president Gary Palmer, in his recent column "Civic Literacy: A Nation Still at Risk," noted, "One of the urgent challenges facing America today is the need to pass on the essential core knowledge and principles necessary for the next generation to successfully lead our nation." At the Bill of Rights Institute, we cheer Mr. Palmer's important article and welcome all SPN members to join us September 17, 2008 to increase civic literacy - with the goal of making every day Constitution Day.

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Victoria Hughes is president of the Bill of Rights Institute. Write her at vhughes@billofrightsinstitute.org.