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September 17, 2008

'Constitution Day'

MSU salutes historic event

Fred Pace

Mountain State University was one of many schools across the country Wednesday that marked the 1787 signing of the charter that established the federal government.

“Our Constitution is one of the most important documents in our nation,” Delegate Linda Sumner, R-Raleigh, said “This is a great time to talk, debate and educate students and our community about it. It give us all a moment to contemplate the Constitution and what it means to us today and in the future.”

So is Constitution Day a genuine teaching moment with lasting impact, or a gimmick with no afterlife?

It’s both, said Dr. Vincent Beach, dean of the School of Arts and Sciences at MSU, who has strong feelings about the annual Sept. 17 event meant to shore up civic education.

“This is a day for people to learn about the Constitution and recognize those who played important roles in writing and adopting it for our nation,” he said.

The MSU agenda included presentations and panel discussions with an open forum for those in the audience.

“I see an erosion of our constitutional rights in this state and this country,” state Delegate Mel Kessler, D-Raleigh, who was also a panelist.

Kessler said those rights are being taken away by local, state, county and federal governments that wish to interpret the Constitution any way they please.

“The Constitution guarantees certain rights for our citizens, but we continue to see the erosion of those rights,” he said. “We must become more involved and we must stand up for our constitutional rights or we’ll continue to see them erode.”

In 2004, Sen. Robert C. Byrd, D-W.Va., a constitutional expert, decided to beef up education about the Constitution. Near the end of a 660-page appropriations bill, he inserted language that required all schools that receive federal funds — universities included — to provide a program on the Constitution each year on or about Sept. 17.

Byrd delivered remarks Wednesday on the Senate floor in honor of Constitution Day.

“I think Sept. 17 should be honored equally with the Fourth of July,” he said. “Both dates mark bedrock, fundamentally important events in the life of our country. Most Americans know that July 4, 1776, marks the signing of the Declaration of Independence, but far fewer could say what is so important about Sept. 17.”

That civic education in U.S. schools is lacking is no secret. Many surveys show most Americans know very little about the document.

“That’s a shame,” Dr. William White of MSU said. “Especially with the upcoming presidential election. Our Constitution speaks of leadership, and there is so much apathy that understanding the document doesn’t seem to matter to many.”

The subject got serious attention at the forum Wednesday.

“The day gave us a chance to show the importance of government and its role according to the Constitution,” said Roslyn Artis, vice president of university advancement at MSU.

The panel also included Dr. Mark Miller, a senior academic officer at the university.

Across the country, state education agencies are distributing lesson plans and materials to schools. Colleges and universities are planning lectures and other activities. At Harvard University, events will be focused on the 13th Amendment, which ended slavery. At George Washington University, speakers talked about rights not written into the document. MSU focused on the Bill of Rights and if other amendments may need added to the document to better fit today’s issues and laws.

“Many schools fail to prepare students to be effective, engaged citizens in a democracy,” Artis said. “We want to educate our students about the importance of the Constitution and being more involved in our democracy. Constitution Day does make sense because it is a day to honor it. But overall, it should be an all-year thing. The Constitution was made for the people. It involves everybody, and everybody should be aware of their rights.”

— E-mail:

fpace@register-herald.com

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