U.S. Constitution takes center stage
By Gretchen Losi/Staff Writer/Daily Press
VICTORVILLE - Students at the Academy of Academic Excellence started their Friday at the flagpole.
They said the Pledge of Allegiance, recited the Preamble to the Constitution, and heard the school band play several patriotic favorites including "God Bless America."
"They made a note of this important day," school spokeswoman Cheryl Thompson said. "They even heard a short talk about what makes our country great."
Schools across the country concentrated on the U.S. Constitution in keeping with the federal mandate enacted in May. Now all public schools must hold an educational program on Constitution Day, Sept. 17. Because this year it falls on a Saturday, many schools dedicated Friday to the event.
Only three weeks into the school year, Victor Valley Union High School District teachers have had little time to teach students about the Constitution.
"The day comes early (in the school year) so it creates a bit of a challenge," teacher Carla McThee said. "We don't really start talking about it until next week. But this is a way to get started."
Teachers at Imogene Garner Hook Junior High School in Victorville got creative and incorporated the mandate into one of their living history days.
With the Constitution as their main focus, teachers provided their eighth-graders with a day of late 18th century activities.
Many of the students attended school dressed in colonial fashion. Once there, they became immersed in the 18th century.
Students learned the Constitution by numbers in their math class by playing the game Nine Mens Morris, a colonial combination of tic-tac-toe and checkers.
"It's surprisingly fun for an old game that was played such a long time ago," student Laura Lopez, 13, said.
During a mock trial involving a pig thief, students learned how the Constitution protects the rights of the people. In one class students talked colonial politics as they learned to churn butter and in another they explored the similarities between colonial music and today's hip-hop.
"Today's music is definitely influenced by colonial music," teacher Heather Blue said. "Look at Destiny's Child. They all part-sing. Colonial music gave us that."
Students also learned what dances were popular among citizens of the young republic when retired teacher Lewie Johnson came back and taught the students the Virginia Reel.
Gretchen Losi may be reached at 951-6233 or gretchen_losi@link.freedom.com.
Used with permission by Daily Press, Freedom Communication, 2005