Monday, September 17, 2007

Teens Clueless on Constitution Day

Well, I have to admit I had no idea it was Constitution Day either.
WASHINGTON - Constitution Day is here and many teenagers know little about commemorating the document's signing.

A study being released Monday by a foundation that focuses on journalism and the First Amendment found that 51 percent of high school students questioned had not heard of the day when they are required by law to learn about the Constitution.
Of course, such a day didn't exist back when I was in high school, and it's just a recent creation.
Constitution Day was created by Congress in 2004. It was the brainchild of Sen. Robert Byrd, D-W.Va., who carries a copy of the Constitution in his pocket. The law requires any school and college receiving federal money to teach about the Constitution on or about Sept. 17.

Schools can determine the kind of educational program, but they must hold one each year.

Boston University this year will distribute Constitution Day bookmarks and host Anthony Romero, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union, for a lecture. Wittenberg University in Springfield, Ohio, will hand out pocket copies of the Constitution and serve patriotic meals colored in red, white and blue in the school cafeteria.
Thank goodness we have a presidential candidate who takes his marching orders from The Constitution.

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