Apropos of Constitution Day

[cyberswede]

I was somewhat encouraged yesterday, when I checked inside my 2nd grader's backpack. Among his other school papers, I found a handout of the preamble to the Constitution. It was pretty cute - there were parenthetical "translations" of each line, so the kids would understand what the words meant (i.e. "We the People of the United States (all the people in the country, including kids),
in Order to form a more perfect Union (to make the country better), and so forth).

Anyway, I plan to discuss the document with him tonight, especially to emphasize the concept of promoting the general welfare. In the past, I've explained to him that Republicans aren't bad people (he asked), but that they think different things are important - this will be a perfect time to go into that a little more, I think. :)

So, Happy Constitution Day, everyone (it's also my kiddo's 8th birthday).

[TechBear_Seattle]

1. A bit more about Constitution Day

From the Wikipedia article on Constitution Day (United States):

Constitution Day (or Citizenship Day) is an American federal observance that recognizes the ratification of the United States Constitution, and also recognizes all who have become citizens due to either coming of age or naturalization. It is observed on September 17, the day the U.S. Constitutional Convention signed the Constitution in 1787.

The law establishing the holiday was created in 2004 with the passage of an amendment by Senator Robert Byrd to the Omnibus spending bill of 2004. Before this law was enacted, the holiday was known as "Citizenship Day". In addition to renaming the holiday "Constitution Day and Citizenship Day," the act mandates that all publicly funded educational institutions provide educational programming on the history of the American Constitution on that day. In May 2005, the United States Department of Education announced the enactment of this law and that it would apply to any school receiving federal funds of any kind. This holiday is not observed by granting time off work for federal employees.

When Constitution Day falls on a weekend or on another holiday, schools and other institutions observe the holiday on an adjacent weekday. This was the case in 2005, when Constitution Day was generally observed on Friday, September 16 and 2006 when the holiday was observed on Monday, September 18.

[cyberswede]

2. Thanks!

My son did write in his school journal that the class "learned about rights." I need to ask him some more about that, too. :)

[marmar]

3. I heard that Dick Cheney wants to rename it "Crap on the Constitution Day"

n/t

[cyberswede]

4. well, THAT could make for some interesting school projects... n/t

[Romulox]

5. Second graders are old enough to detect phoniness and hypocrisy.

You should tell the kid the truth: i.e. that the Constitution is in tatters, and simply does not stand for the plain words it says. Is the purpose of our government really to promote "the General Welfare"? Are we really protected from "unreasonable" ("reasonable" is a weasel word if there ever was one!) search and seizures? The answer to both questions is plainly, "no".