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EDITORIAL
Constitution Day should not be mandatory for colleges
Issue date: 9/18/06 Section: Opinion
Constitution Day is held mid-September in public schools across the nation, from elementary to college. The day, which was tacked onto an appropriations bill, is federally mandated but not federally funded. While The Battalion commends the idea and the Texas A&M committee involved, we do not agree with its implementation.
The mandate is but another example of the federal government's intrusion upon state issues through means of its monetary powers. It is ironic that forcing colleges to teach the Constitution is itself unconstitutional. The Tenth Amendment asserts that rights not reserved for the federal government are set aside for the states. Educational content is one of those rights. The federal government does not have the power to dictate lesson plans and content to its nation's universities and schools.
Requiring a post-secondary institution to review elementary government is inane. A&M requires all students to take two political science classes, and these are of far more value than a one-day Constitution festival. The best way to dissolve ignorance of the Constitution is to reach out to students when they are in elementary school.
The day would be less of an issue if the federal government would contribute funding to make Constitution Day a bigger event. With enough resources, A&M could spread word about it more effectively. As it stands however, the University can't afford to dip into funds elsewhere to spread the word about something as important as this. The Battalion ran one advertisement about Constitution Day, and the almost $300 to fund it came out of the Office of the Provost. That's money that will not benefit A&M students.
It is true that ignorance of the Constitution is pervasive in America. This is an issue that deserves lengthy discussion within Congress, not a half-hearted, reactionary attempt to overturn an ignorance that exists because people are not exposed to the Constitution at an early age. Most students aren't formally taught about the Constitution until their senior year in high school. This is the problem that needs to be addressed.
The Constitution is perhaps the single most important document to Americans. The fact that this is being forced upon universities suggests that legislators do not feel the same way. Constitution Day is a mockery of that sacred document. The federal government's solution violates constitutional principles while doing little to defeat ignorance.
The mandate is but another example of the federal government's intrusion upon state issues through means of its monetary powers. It is ironic that forcing colleges to teach the Constitution is itself unconstitutional. The Tenth Amendment asserts that rights not reserved for the federal government are set aside for the states. Educational content is one of those rights. The federal government does not have the power to dictate lesson plans and content to its nation's universities and schools.
Requiring a post-secondary institution to review elementary government is inane. A&M requires all students to take two political science classes, and these are of far more value than a one-day Constitution festival. The best way to dissolve ignorance of the Constitution is to reach out to students when they are in elementary school.
The day would be less of an issue if the federal government would contribute funding to make Constitution Day a bigger event. With enough resources, A&M could spread word about it more effectively. As it stands however, the University can't afford to dip into funds elsewhere to spread the word about something as important as this. The Battalion ran one advertisement about Constitution Day, and the almost $300 to fund it came out of the Office of the Provost. That's money that will not benefit A&M students.
It is true that ignorance of the Constitution is pervasive in America. This is an issue that deserves lengthy discussion within Congress, not a half-hearted, reactionary attempt to overturn an ignorance that exists because people are not exposed to the Constitution at an early age. Most students aren't formally taught about the Constitution until their senior year in high school. This is the problem that needs to be addressed.
The Constitution is perhaps the single most important document to Americans. The fact that this is being forced upon universities suggests that legislators do not feel the same way. Constitution Day is a mockery of that sacred document. The federal government's solution violates constitutional principles while doing little to defeat ignorance.
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