California school board tables discussion on Constitution Day celebration
A Southern California school board had to weigh the idea of formally recognizing Constitution Day before opting to table the idea.
Christine Schmidt, a Murrieta Valley Unified School District…
A Southern California school board had to weigh the idea of formally recognizing Constitution Day before opting to table the idea.
Christine Schmidt, a Murrieta Valley Unified School District Board of Education member, floated the idea at the board’s meeting last week, calling for a districtwide push to celebrate the holiday each year on Sept. 17, news outlet Off The Press reports.
“Especially since next year, right, is the 250th anniversary of the United States … I think this is very timely,” Schmidt said during the meeting.
Constitution Day commemorates the signing of the U.S. Constitution on Sept. 17, 1787. The California Department of Education encourages public schools to celebrate it to “deepen students’ understanding of the U.S. Constitution and the responsibilities of citizenship.”
Schmidt’s suggestions included classroom discussions, guest speakers and a chance for younger students to dress up as their favorite Founders.
While the other board members didn’t openly oppose the idea, they questioned whether the district could squeeze in another celebration during an already-busy September calendar. Superintendent Dr. Ward Andrus noted the district already holds events around Patriot Day, commemorating the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
The district could incorporate Constitution Day into those efforts, Andrus said.
“There’s already somewhat of a structure in place to do it,” he said of Patriot Day celebrations. “I just think it’s adding an emphasis on the second part.”
Yet, the board ultimately set the conversation aside without taking a vote.
An increased emphasis on constitutional history comes as educational leaders nationwide discuss ways to improve students’ civic knowledge, particularly as the nation’s 250th anniversary looms.
Over one-fifth of Americans cannot name a single right protected by the First Amendment, the University of Pennsylvania’s Annenberg Public Policy Center found in 2023.
Meanwhile, a 2022 National Assessment of Educational Progress civics exam showed declining scores for the first time since testing began in 1998.
Murrieta Valley Unified School District serves about 22,700 students in Murrieta, California, a city of approximately 113,000 people. Murrieta is about 65 miles north of San Diego and 80 miles southeast of Los Angeles.
