Our Constitution “is more than a piece of parchment written over 200 years ago; it is the living blueprint of our constitutional republic.” – Margaret Sackett
By Margaret Sackett, Burien Resident since 1972
Presented to the Highline School Board
Constitution Day is observed each year on September 17 to commemorate the signing of the U.S. Constitution in 1787 and to recognize all who have become U.S. citizens. It is a federal observance that encourages educational programs to promote study and reflection on the Constitution in schools and government institutions.
All federally funded schools are required to hold educational programs about the Constitution on this day. My simple suggestion would be to ask students to memorize at least the Preamble. Middle and high school students should be required to read the Constitution in full. Lessons on citizenship could also include how immigrants become U.S. citizens, with students encouraged to attend a naturalization ceremony to welcome new citizens.
The Preamble to the U.S. Constitution
"We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.'
Constitution Day is not just another date on the calendar. It is a time to reflect on the values that make America exceptional, to remember the sacrifices made to establish a government “of the people, by the people, for the people,” and to emphasize our shared responsibility to protect and defend the Constitution.
Yet, as important as this day is, many Americans—especially young people—are unaware of the Constitution’s significance. It is more than a piece of parchment written over 200 years ago; it is the living blueprint of our constitutional republic.
By celebrating Constitution Day, we reaffirm our belief in the freedoms it guarantees—speech, religion, worship, the right to bear arms, and more. These freedoms were fought for and preserved by generations before us, and they require our defense today and in the future.
I urge schools to make concrete plans now for the required observance of Constitution Day on September 17th.
Members Discussion