Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Schools ordered to observe ‘Constitution Day’
MSNBC ^ | May 24, 2005 | Associated Press

Posted on 05/27/2005 6:46:33 AM PDT by Halfmanhalfamazing

WASHINGTON - The Constitution long has ensured that Congress can’t tell schools what to teach. But that’s no longer the case for at least one topic — the Constitution itself. advertisement The Education Department outlined Tuesday how it plans to enforce a little-known provision that Congress passed in 2004: Every school and college that receives federal money must teach about the Constitution on Sept. 17, the day the document was adopted in 1787. Schools can determine what kind of educational program they want, but they must hold one every year on the now-named “Constitution Day and Citizenship Day.” And if Sept. 17 falls on a weekend or holiday, schools must schedule a program immediately before or after that date. Historically, the federal government has avoided dictating what or when anything must be taught because those powers rest with the states under the 10th Amendment. The Education Department’s Web site even underlines that point, saying matters such as the development of curricula and the setting of course requirements fall outside federal authority.

(Excerpt) Read more at msnbc.msn.com ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism
KEYWORDS: civicseducation; constitutionday
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-36 last
To: Oberon; stainlessbanner; martin_fierro; Tijeras_Slim; dighton; aculeus; Owl_Eagle; Cagey; ...
Hope you've toned up, trimmed down, and moisturized.
The scrutiny could be intense.

Observation is one thing. I can handle that.
But other news stories say:

Schools told to hold Constitution Day

I won't stand for that.

I don't want them to hold me!
They haven't bought me dinner, or candy, or anything!

Unnngh.

21 posted on 05/27/2005 7:13:28 AM PDT by Constitution Day ("It's hard to get an answer when you haven't got a clue" - - The Futureheads)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: Constitution Day

To Hold and Observe....


22 posted on 05/27/2005 7:15:36 AM PDT by stainlessbanner
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: Halfmanhalfamazing
The Education Department outlined Tuesday how it plans to enforce a little-known provision that Congress passed in 2004: Every school and college that receives federal money must teach about the Constitution on Sept. 17

There is much irony in having Congress and the Education Department mandate to the states the teaching of the Constitution. Apparently neither of them has read the 10th Amendment and therefore are in more need of remedial Constitutional education than the schoolkids.

23 posted on 05/27/2005 7:17:10 AM PDT by dirtboy (Drooling moron since 1998...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Gondring

KKK Byrd is responsible for this?

Figures.


24 posted on 05/27/2005 7:19:42 AM PDT by Constitution Day ("It's hard to get an answer when you haven't got a clue" - - The Futureheads)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | View Replies]

To: dirtboy
You know, it's kinda funny...the Russians under the Soviet system had a constitution as well, with many of the same guarantees that ours has.

Funny how that works.

25 posted on 05/27/2005 7:20:18 AM PDT by Oberon (What does it take to make government shrink?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 23 | View Replies]

To: Constitution Day

Congratulations.


26 posted on 05/27/2005 8:04:59 AM PDT by aculeus (Ceci n'est pas une tag line.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: Constitution Day

All hands on CD!


27 posted on 05/27/2005 8:09:38 AM PDT by general_re ("Frantic orthodoxy is never rooted in faith, but in doubt." - Reinhold Niebuhr)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: Constitution Day
"I don't want them to hold me!"

Whatever you say.

28 posted on 05/27/2005 8:29:37 AM PDT by Rebelbase (Seven disloyal senators sold the chance to crush the democrats for tv face time.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: Rebelbase
Well, since you put it that way...;^)

See, I was imagining that hateful old b!tch that taught me English in the 8th grade.

29 posted on 05/27/2005 8:31:17 AM PDT by Constitution Day ("It's hard to get an answer when you haven't got a clue" - - The Futureheads)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 28 | View Replies]

To: Constitution Day

Hey, don't worry about it. I'll sub for you!


30 posted on 05/27/2005 8:38:38 AM PDT by Rebelbase (Seven disloyal senators sold the chance to crush the democrats for tv face time.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 29 | View Replies]

To: dakine
Isn't it unconstitutional for the Federal govt. to dictate to the States on education? Yeah, I thought so....

It's unconstitutional for the Federal government to fund education too, but it spends billions of dollars doing so. This is no different than what they already do with transportation (ie, if you don't make the drinking age 21, you won't get highway funding).

31 posted on 05/27/2005 9:50:16 AM PDT by usapatriot28
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]

To: usapatriot28
This is no different than what they already do with transportation (ie, if you don't make the drinking age 21, you won't get highway funding).

This is one example of one of the most insidious tyrannies around. What difference is there between them taking your money and giving it back only if you do what they say--and just fining you if you don't do what they say?

Even Republicans like to talk of "tax credits"...which is another word for "fine"...as in, if you DON'T do what they say, you have to pay more in taxes.

32 posted on 05/27/2005 2:11:29 PM PDT by Gondring (Pretend you don't know me...I'm in the WPPFF.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 31 | View Replies]

To: Constitution Day
But Congress stepped in when it came to the nation’s foundational document, thanks to Sen. Robert Byrd, the West Virginia Democrat who keeps a copy of the Constitution in his pocket. Byrd inserted the Constitution lesson mandate into a massive spending bill in 2004, frustrated by what he called a huge ignorance on the part of many Americans about history.

It so happened that the Education Department’s new guidelines emerged just as Byrd and the Senate, engaged in a fight over judicial filibusters, debated the Constitution’s checks and balances.

Neither the department nor Congress has required a specific curriculum or a particular interpretation of the Constitution, Byrd said in an interview Monday.

“I hope that schools will develop many different, creative ways to enable students to learn about one of our country’s most important historic documents,” he said. “The Constitution protects their freedoms and will impact all facets of their lives.”

33 posted on 05/27/2005 2:13:30 PM PDT by Gondring (Pretend you don't know me...I'm in the WPPFF.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 24 | View Replies]

To: Halfmanhalfamazing

Wow, now the liberal education cabal is suddenly concerned about the preservation of states rights! Whodda thunk?


34 posted on 05/27/2005 2:14:46 PM PDT by TChris (Liberals: All death, all the time.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: usapatriot28
It's unconstitutional for the Federal government to fund education too, but it spends billions of dollars doing so. This is no different than what they already do with transportation (ie, if you don't make the drinking age 21, you won't get highway funding).

All in the name of "regulating commerce among the several states", and "providing for the general welfare".

35 posted on 05/27/2005 2:23:58 PM PDT by tacticalogic ("Oh, bother!" said Pooh, as he chambered his last round.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 31 | View Replies]

To: TChris

I've noticed that about liberals. *HAVING IT BOTH WAYS* seems to be the ultimate goal.

This story is another classic illustration of that. It's unrealistic.... you don't always get to have your cake and eat it too.


36 posted on 05/27/2005 3:12:48 PM PDT by Halfmanhalfamazing
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 34 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-36 last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson