Schools ordered to observe ‘Constitution Day’：学校要求遵守宪法日.doc

Schools ordered to observe Constitution DayFeds set aside Sept. 17 for mandatory lessons on documentThe Associated PressWASHINGTON - The Constitution long has ensured that Congress cant tell schools what to teach. But thats no longer the case for at least one topic the Constitution itself.The Education Department outlined Tuesday how it plans to enforce a little-known provision that Congress passed in 2004: Every school and college that receives federal money must teach about the Constitution on Sept. 17, the day the document was adopted in 1787.Schools can determine what kind of educational program they want, but they must hold one every year on the now-named “Constitution Day and Citizenship Day.” And if Sept. 17 falls on a weekend or holiday, schools must schedule a program immediately before or after that date.Historically, the federal government has avoided dictating what or when anything must be taught because those powers rest with the states under the 10th Amendment. The Education Departments Web site even underlines that point, saying matters such as the development of curricula and the setting of course requirements fall outside federal authority.Congressional lesson planBut Congress stepped in when it came to the nations foundational document, thanks to Sen. Robert Byrd, the West Virginia Democrat who keeps a copy of the Constitution in his pocket. Byrd inserted the Constitution lesson mandate into a massive spending bill in 2004, frustrated by what he called a huge ignorance on the part of many Americans about history.It so happened that the Education Departments new guidelines emerged just as Byrd and the Senate, engaged in a fight over judicial filibusters, debated the Constitutions checks and balances.Neither the department nor Congress has required a specific curriculum or a particular interpretation of the Constitution, Byrd said in an interview Monday.“I hope that schools will develop many different, creative ways to enable students to learn about one of our countrys most important historic documents,” he said. “The Constitution protects their freedoms and will impact all facets of their lives.”Department spokeswoman Susan Aspey said “there are enforcement options” that may apply but said it is too early to speculate on what happens if schools dont follow the law.“We expect institutions to comply,” Aspey said. The departments guidelines direct schools to Web sites for information, including the one run by the National Archives.The federal law championed by Byrd also affects all federal agencies. They will have to train new employees about the Constitution during orientation and train all employees about the document every Sept. 17. The Office of Personnel Management is expected to post guidelines in those areas soon. 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.Constitution and Citizenship Day will be Observed September 16, 2005NATIONALLY: A national simultaneous recitation of the Preamble to the U. S. Constitution will be recited across America by schools and the military. President George W. Bush signed Constitution Day into law Dec 8th, 2004, (Public Law 108-447) mandating an educational program every September 17th, Constitution Day. So that all schools may participate, Constitution Day will be celebrated on Friday, September 16, 2005, 2 PM EST and 1 PM CST. Should President Bush lead the Preamble on September 16, 2005, Fox News will broadcast the event. President George Bush Sr., US Supreme Court Associate Justice Anthony Kennedy, and Alabama Supreme Court Justice Roy Moore, have led the Preamble in previous years. It Will Be The First Time In American History That America Will Simultaneously Recite The Preamble. The nation can join in the first unique patriotic celebration by stopping for three minutes on September 16 in your correct time zone and recite the Preamble with all America simultaneously. The nation is invited to post individual, school, group or organization names on a national website by emailing their plans for observing Sept. 17 to ConstitutionD Churches are invited to simultaneously ring bells immediately following the reading the of Preamble.LINCOLN PUBLIC SCHOOLS A packet of material will be developed over the summer for all K-5 teachers that will include grade teaching suggestions such as: literature books, webquests for students, activities and projects, media resources, and suggested lessons from the Harcourt Social Studies texts at each grade level. Social Studies teachers in grades 6-12 will receive information and instructional suggestions appropriate to their grade level and aligned with curriculum standards. Schools may decide to observe Constitution and Citizenship Day 2005 as a part of a building-wide activity or special event, or allow teachers to develop individual classroom or team activities that focus on our founding document. Since September 17 falls on Saturday, the national observance will be Friday, September 16. Schools may choose a day during the week immediately preceding or following September 17. A list of community resources and speakers will be developed.More information will be available at the beginning of the 2005-06 school year. It is highly likely that the Lincoln Journal Star will provide Newspaper in Education program will be provide the Lincoln Journal Star with instructional materials and an insert for the week of September 12. Student news magazines such as Time for Kids, Weekly Reader, and Scholastic, may also provide instructional materials. Constitution and Citizenship Day has been enacted will be observed every year in every school, and college that receives federal funding, and by all federal agencies.FR Doc 05-10355Federal Register: May 24, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 99)Page 29727DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Notice of Implementation of Constitution Day and Citizenship Day on September 17 of Each YearAGENCY: Office of Innovation and Improvement, Department of Education.ACTION: Notice of implementation of Constitution Day and Citizenship Day.SUMMARY: The Assistant Deputy Secretary for Innovation and Improvement announces that, pursuant to legislation passed by Congress, educational institutions receiving Federal funding are required to hold an educational program pertaining to the United States Constitution on September 17 of each year. This notice implements this provision as it applies to educational institutions receiving Federal funding from the Department.FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Alex Stein, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., room 4W218, Washington, DC 20202-5910. Telephone: (202) 895-9085 or via Internet: Alex.S .SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice informs educational institutions receiving Federal funds from the U.S. Department of Education (Department) of a new statutory requirement for implementation of an educational program pertaining to the United States Constitution, on a date designated by statute as Constitution Day and Citizenship Day (Constitution Day). This Congressional initiative is authorized by Section 111 of Division J of Pub. L. 108-447, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2005, Dec. 8, 2004; 118 Stat. 2809, 3344-45 (Section 111). The Assistant Deputy Secretary for Innovation and Improvement (Assistant Deputy Secretary) takes this action in order to implement this provision as it applies to educational institutions receiving Federal funding from the Department. Section 111(b) states each educational institution that receives Federal funds for a fiscal year shall hold an educational program on the United States Constitution on September 17 of such year for the students served by the educational institution. For purposes of the Departments implementation of this requirement, educational institutions includes but is not limited to local educational agencies and institutions of higher education receiving Federal funding from the Department. Section 111 applies to all educational institutions receiving Federal funding, not only those receiving Federal funding from the Department. However, the Departments authority only extends to those educational institutions receiving funding from the Department, and consequently the Department can only regulate with regard to those institutions. Section 111 requires that Constitution Day be held on September 17 of each year, commemorating the September 17, 1787 signing of the Constitution. However, when September 17 falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or holiday, Constitution Day shall be held during the preceding or following week. Section 111 does not authorize funds to carry out this requirement, and Section 111(d) indicates that this section shall apply without fiscal year limitation. Accordingly, the Assistant Deputy Secretary intends that this notice pertain to this fiscal year and all subsequent years. Some informational resources pertaining to the Constitution are listed below. In addition to these, the Department is aware that there may be other public and private resources available that may be helpful to educational institutions in implementing Constitution Day. While the Department does not endorse any particular program or Web site, this information is provided because it may be of use to educational institutions developing their Constitution Day programs. One of the Library of Congress repositories for Constitutional documents and information may be accessed