Constitution studies already being done by one Anderson teacher

[Cookie Parker]

http://www.heraldbulletin.com/local/local_story_261193102.html

I?ve been doing it ever since I started teaching fifth grade in 1976,? Lawler said. ?It?s part of social studies where we talk about government. It just worked out this year that we were working on the Constitution and it matched up with Constitution Day.

?Most students are surprised at what the Third Amendment says, the right not to house a soldier,? Lawler said.

It allows a resident to refuse to allow a soldier to stay overnight in a home, she said. Most students don?t understand why that is there until they learn about how the British soldiers were able to come to a home and demand accommodation.

Seventh-graders at South Side Middle School get several doses of Constitution study. They study its history in their history classes and learn how it works within the government in Ross Stanley?s geography classes.

?I usually study it in the beginning of the year, in late September,? Stanley said. ?That way they will know how our government works, so that when we go around the world and study other countries and their government, they?ve got something to reference it to.?

And hopefully by the time they see all the other governments and how they work, they?ll get a good appreciation for how good they have it in the United States, Stanley said. When they study the document, they examine how it is put together, the articles and the amendments.

At East Side Middle School, the Constitution is studied at various times, said Chad Wetz, eight-grade U.S. history teacher. For Constitution Day the entire school last Thursday listened to a 15-minute clip on Channel One on the usefulness of the Bill of Rights and the Constitution.

?It showed them how it was useful to them at their age and every day,? Wetz said. ?It talked about freedom of speech and other rights they have.?

This is a good thing.  And Indiana has some very valuable information they teach.  The low test scores belie the great education in this state.  Geography was one elementary school course my children took and they never forgot.  This is just one example of the many fine teachers in this area....really.  My children have had some pretty good ones.

What's your take on teaching the constitution to children?  what other courses do you see are necessary which are not taught in your area?