9/17 is Constitution Day in USA. In NY History teachers MUST do a lesson on it or related rights/philosophy. What should my colleagues PRIORITIZE?

[DrPepper12]

Should they teach it de facto or should they teach it de jure?

Are current events fair game or even MORE essential in this era?

Should focus be election process, role of rhetoric, foreign vs domestic policies, SCOTUS, Congress, POTUS, UNconstitutional things, federalism, individual & group rights, progress & setbacks, role of NGOs like media, unions, academia, political parties, etc?

They will have ONLY 40-90 minutes depending on school & grade level. Is the inclusion of any author, historical data, video, newspaper, film, political cartoons, graphs, charts, prompts, etc absolutely essential to display & discuss?

Please be detailed - I'm super curious about this ESPECIALLY from non USA Americans!!

[WindAtMyBack]

Never heard of Constitution Day. I looked it up and it sounds retarded, or at least the mandated education is.

40-90 minutes isn't much at all. That is not a lesson on the Constitution. That's a recap of what kids should have already learned over the course of several years. So I think it should be approached that way. Maybe call it elaborated bullets - something concise that hits on the main points.

Personally, I prefer putting it in context rather than simply going over what the Constitution itself says. To put it in context means the history, going back several hundred years. The Articles of Confederation and the Constitution are an extension of a several hundred year trend that started in England and carried over to the colonies. The Magna Carta 2.0, the Enhanced Edition is pretty much was it was.

Most of the Bill of Rights also came from England. The Bill of Rights was the expansion pack enhanced edition.

You just can't cover much in that amount of time. It has to be a recap. Or with the assumption that the kids already know (or should know) a lot about it, maybe just concentrate on the document itself.

[AviatorTom]

Most people have no idea what's really in the Constitution, yet they "quote" it a lot.

I would suggest a basic overview of the actual Constitution, including each of the 7 articles and what each says, and an overview of the 27 amendments, with emphasis on the first 10 Bill of Rights.

I'd also put it in a historical context. How old is it? When was it written and approved? And by whom?

[Avicenna]

Sounds like you want them to teach it from the perspective of leftist activists suffering from TDS.

How much teaching the Bill of Rights, 13th-15th Amendments and separation of powers in Articles I-III.

[DrPepper12]

Theory or reality? Prediction or reality? Congress & SCOTUS have abdicated in favor of an imperial presidency

[MisterWack]

I believe teach The US Constitution and All its Amendments in its entirety.

When you do that, once students notice something ain’t right they’ll point to the founding document and their rights as Americans.

[exitseven]

Start with the First Amendment , then if there is time discuss the second amendment and why those two are related.

[Twalli]

What we've learned from history is that people don't learn from History.

[Sal_Monella]

Coming from a leftist who loves crime, this qualifies for the Guineas record for ROTFLOL posts. I am really impressed.

[Anonymous]

I think history is one of the most important subjects in school.

[seeyounexttuesday]

It's got to be hard for you lefties to teach something you have no understanding of.

[contentious]

I can see you already failed I/Q day...

[chrissykerdock]

i think the dems have proven that