An Action Plan to Ensure Our Public Schools Teach the Constitution during Constitution Week, Sept. 18-24, 2011
Patriots across the country are justifiably concerned that students in the public schools are not being taught about the founding documents which created our nation. In 2004, Congress passed a law which requires an educational program on the Constitution be taught in all public schools during Constitution Week.
In 2010, a Patriot in Florida brought the requirement to the attention of his local school district and asked what program would be offered. He was stunned to learn the school district was unaware of the law and no plans had been made to comply with it.
He suggested Tea Party Patriots mount a national campaign for 2011 Constitution Week to pressure our public schools to comply with the law. The response from local coordinators was uniformly positive: We must pressure the public schools to teach the Constitution!
Patriots should not have to remind schools to teach the history of the most important document in our country. That we have to do so is an indication of how awful the public school system has become with regard to teaching U.S. history.
We have designed a simple plan to achieve this goal. It will be most effective if we can launch a national campaign in all 50 states.
How it Works: We ask that you send a series of 3 letters to the superintendent of schools, school board and local media in your community. Letters can be mailed, emailed, or faxed.
May 2011 – Send Letter #1: This letter asks the superintendent and school board if they have plans to teach the Constitution as required by law. It lets the district know we are aware of the law and we expect it to be followed. It also suggests a curriculum the schools can purchase from the National Center for Constitutional Studies which can be used to meet the requirements. The NCCS program also meets standards for historical accuracy.
Watch the Series
The Making of America
from NCCS
Download the
Companion Guide
(pdf file)
Download Letter #1 as a Word document and fill in the blanks with the name of your district, superintendent, etc.
August 2011 – Send Letter #2: This letter is a follow-up to the May message. It is similar to the first letter, but it asks the superintendent to let you know what specific plans the district has in place.
Download Letter #2 as a Word document and fill in the blanks with the name of your district, superintendent, etc.
First week of September – Letter #3 to local media: This letter should be sent to the media in your community. It informs them of the law and describes our efforts to be sure it is observed appropriately during Constitution Week. It asks the media to contact the schools to see what plans they have in place, and if not, why not?
Download Letter #3 as a Word document and fill in the blanks with the name of your district, superintendent, etc.
These letters can be personalized for use in your community. We need to contact as many school districts as possible to let them know we are serious about educating our children in the principles of the Founders. We expect districts to observe the law.
If you find resistance from your district superintendent or administrators toward implementing the program, please let your Tea Party group know, and then contact the media in your community.
If some schools in your district refuse to comply with law, then consider doing what Tea Partiers do best: Protest! Organize a rally at the school, with a clear message: We demand that students be taught the meaning and significance of the fundamental documents that created our incomparable nation.