Constitution Day with Colorado Law
Overview
On September 16, the Byron White Center is launching the Colorado Law Constitution Day Project, sending law students, professors and alumni to high schools around the state to teach classes on the Constitution.
In 2004, the United States Congress passed a law establishing September 17—the day the Constitution was signed in 1787—as a day of recognition of the importance of the Constitution. Schools that receive federal funds are required to provide programming about the Constitution each year on September 17 (or, as is the case in 2011, on the nearest week day to that date).
The Colorado Law Constitution Day Project this year will offer two lesson options. One of the lessons explores the notion of Constitutional responsibility and requires students to identify sources of responsibility and apply the concept of responsibility to the Constitution. The second lesson will consider how the First Amendment applies to student speech in schools, using a hypothetical about student speech on a social networking site to explore the reach of recent Supreme Court cases.
Professor Melissa Hart, Director of the Center, will provide presenters with an approved curriculum and training on how to effectively convey the information.
Want to get involved?
If you are a Colorado Law student, professor, or alumnus please consider joining us as a presenter for this fun event. To sign-up, please contact the Center at whitecenter@colorado.edu. Because scheduling this kind of event requires considerable preparation, in your email please indicate what time of day you would be available on September 16 and how much time you can spend. Please also indicate if you would be willing to visit a school that is more than 50 miles from Boulder.
If you are a high school teacher or administrator please let us know if you are interested in including Colorado Law in your Constitution Day! The Center is eager to accommodate requests, so please contact us at whitecenter@colorado.edu.
