Gros Louis Perry

Sen. Byrd sponsored legislation, subsequently passed by Congress, that requires all educational institutions that receive federal funds to implement educational programs relating to the United States Constitution on Sept. 17 of each year. September 17th was selected as the date for celebration because on Sept. 17, 1787, the delegates to the Constitutional Convention met for the last time to sign the U. S. Constitution and to present it to the American public.

Some people may see Byrd's initiative as a nuisance without much consequence, and others may see it as wrong-headed Congressional meddling in the educational enterprise. We see it as an opportunity to renew our students' appreciation for American history, their awareness of important human values and their understanding of perhaps America's most important institution.

Sen. Byrd's concerns about our dwindling attention to our Constitution are not without merit. They are grounded in some startling realities about Americans' Constitutional literacy:

· A 2004 survey of high school students sponsored by the Knight Foundation found that nearly three-fourths express little appreciation for the First Amendment and they are less likely than adults to think that people should be allowed to express unpopular opinions or newspapers should be allowed to publish freely without government approval of stories;

· A 2005 American Bar Association poll shows that barely half of all Americans can identify the three branches of government;

· Only 25 percent of students responding to a National Constitution Center survey knew that the Fifth Amendment protects against double jeopardy and self incrimination.

Constitution Day is not a solution to civic illiteracy, but it is a step in the right direction. IU campuses will be celebrating Constitution Day in a variety of ways. Many of our students will receive free copies of pocket guides to the Constitution. Some campuses will host speakers. Others will convene open forums, and yet others will stage debates about timely Constitutional issues. We encourage everyone in the IU community to participate--to pay attention--to these observances.

The Indiana Daily Student suggested a novel approach to celebrate Constitution Day in its Aug. 31 edition by proposing to suspend the Constitution for a day. We know of no campus that will pursue this pedagogical strategy, but the proposal strikes us as an intriguing way to get everyone's attention. "Suspending the Constitution for a day sounds radical, even a bit foolish. But the hands-on experience of living in a society without the freedoms guaranteed in the U.S. Constitution would make a more emphatic statement."

Ironically, the chaos that emerged in New Orleans after Katrina is a reminder of what life might be like without the Constitution.

In their book, The Good Society, noted sociologist Robert Bellah and his colleagues observe that democracy means "paying attention"--and that's precisely what Sen. Byrd had in mind when he offered his legislation. "One will not protect what one does not value. And one cannot value what one does not understand," Byrd said when he introduced his legislation. We think Sen. Byrd has a point, one to which we should all pay attention.

Constitution Day and Constitution Web sites

NPR's Justice Learning and the New York Times Learning Network collaboration:

http://www.justicelearning.org/

National Constitution Center:

http://www.constitutioncenter.org/

Constitution Day Implementation Guide, Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education (NASPA)

http://www.naspa.org/policy/guide.pdf

Library of Congress Documents from the Constitutional Convention:

http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/bdsds/bdsdhome.html

National Archives:

http://www.archives.gov/national-archives-experience/charters/constitution/constitution-day.html