This CNN article talks about a new federal law requiring that all schools receiving federal money must make a point of educating their students on the US Constitution. I accept what the article asserts, that there is a lack of civic awareness that such a law might, perhaps even effectively, address.
On the other hand, I'm very concerned about the issue of compelled speech it seems to implicate. And I fear the indoctrination quality such mandates can so easily entail. "You WILL pledge your allegiance! USA uber alles!" Bad things happen when patriotism becomes mandated, and I'm not sure what keeps this law from being, or becoming, something like that.
Particularly since it doesn't just apply to primary and secondary schools, apparently. I got this email from BU's Dean of Students the other day:
"Constitution Day and Citizenship DayPursuant to a new law, Congress requires Boston University and all other educational institutions receiving Federal funding to hold an educational program pertaining to the United States Constitution on or about September 17 each year. You should consider one of the following informational resources pertaining to the Constitution: The Library of Congress’ repositories for Constitutional documents and information may be accessed at: http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/bdsds/bdsdhome.html; and the National Archives also has a web site with a scan of the U.S. Constitution available online at: http://www.archives.gov/national_archives_experience/charters/constitution.html."
So while I can see this law as being well-intentioned, I nevertheless don't feel comfortable praising it as a great legislative accomplishment.
Edit 9/19: George Mason University, on Constitution Day, is holding a forum on whether Constitution Day is constitutional.
Comments (2)
Here is the official UC Berkeley response to the law:
http://www.berkeley.edu/news/berkeleyan/2005/09/08_constitution.shtml
And be sure to click on the link to UC's attempt at compliance.
Something tells me that this wasn't exactly what Sen. Byrd had in mind. Of course, since no one seems to be taking the requirement too seriously, perhaps it makes sense-- though I dislike federal curriculum mandates.
Posted by Mark | September 16, 2005 4:20 PM
Posted on September 16, 2005 16:20
If I still lived in the states, I'd probably be offended by a holiday called "Citizenship Day," having been a non-citizen of the US for so long. Sounds like a holiday North Korea would come up with.
(Not that it's a holiday in the US. Still, combined with a few other things the Bush adm. has been trying to do, and you can't help but get scared.)
Posted by Koichi | September 19, 2005 9:23 PM
Posted on September 19, 2005 21:23