Image Credit: UTK & Canva.
Article by Paula Gomes, Tennessee Conservative News –
University of Tennessee, Knoxville has sent out hundreds of new Constitution Day toolkits to teachers across the state through the university’s Institute of American Civics (IAC) which is housed in the Baker School of Public Policy and Public Affairs.
Developed through the IAC’s grant-funded Renewing the Republic initiative, 315 toolkits have been distributed to Tennessee teachers, with more going to community partners.
IAC’s Constitution Day programming will extend beyond September 17th, the date the Constitution was signed in 1787, through classroom resources, school programs, teacher training, and public events all designed to deepen understanding of American self-government and the Constitution of the United States.
Executive Director Joshua Dunn states that understanding the constitution is more than just knowing what the document says, “It means wrestling with the ideas behind it, understanding the institutions it created and considering what self-government asks of each generation.”
According to Managing Director Frankie Nicole Weaver, civics education in communities and classrooms across the state will be supported throughout the entire year as the kits can be reused numerous times.
Comprised of 42 pocket-sized annotated copies of the constitution, Constitution Day game cards and lesson booklets for K-12 which focus on the three branches of government, the kits allow students to engage with the Constitution and with the principles that have shaped the United States of America.
An additional 3,000 copies of the Constitution were produced by the IAC for use throughout their fall programs.
The institute will retain six kits for their lending library which schools and other partners may borrow in the future for civic education.
This Constitution Day, the six kits will be utilized by West View Middle School in Hamblen County for a schoolwide program. A copy of the Constitution will go home with 550 students.
Other IAC events are planned both on September 17th and beyond across the state.
At the university, historian Allen C. Guelzo will give a free public lecture titled “Lincoln and the American Idea: From the Declaration to Gettysburg” at 5:30pm on Thursday, September 17th, in the Baker School’s Toyota Auditorium. While open to the public, registration is required.
Earlier this year, Tennessee lawmakers from both parties passed civics related legislation with Tennessee students in mind.
HB1747/SB1819, sponsored by Representative Bob Freeman (D-Nashville-District 56) and Senator Heidi Campbell (D-Nashville-District 20), requires that public high schools provide students enrolled in U.S. government and civics courses the opportunity to participate in three civic engagement field trips in order to observe each branch of government. Should budgetary constraints make field trips impracticable, the legislation allows virtual tours, state-approved traveling civics programs, or visits from county public officials as part of an interactive instructional session instead.
Conservative Representative Michele Reneau (R-Signal Mountain-District 27) along with Senator Adam Lowe (R-Calhoun-District 1) sponsored legislation that mandates middle and high school students in public schools view a civics instructional video.
HB2395/SB1953, requires video instruction beginning with the 2027-2028 school year at least once for students in grades 6-8 and grades 9-12. The video must be politically neutral and historically accurate while including information about the Declaration of Independence, specifically the preamble, and include the religious affiliation and moral beliefs of the founding fathers.
Sources:
Tennessee General Assembly.
About the Author: Paula Gomes is a Tennessee resident and reporter for The Tennessee Conservative. You can reach Paula at paula@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
One Response
Prob be wasted on lucifer’s accursed dimmercrap “teachers”.
I graduated HS in ’71. Civics wasn’t offered. Had 2 yr. of, to me, useless algebra though.