Happy Constitution Day!
September 17th is Constitution Day – celebrating the signing of our beloved country’s owner’s manual on September 17, 1787 in the great city of Philadelphia (site of NASBE’s national conference next month). In addition to some states that require recognition of this day and a lesson on the Constitution, it is now federal law (thank you Senator Byrd (D-WV)) for schools to observe Constitution Day with some educational program. Of course, since the law in question makes no accommodation for days on which the 17th does not fall on a school day, we the people in public education should consider ourselves fortunate that today is a Monday and thus not in violation of federal law this year. Here are some helpful resources from the U.S. Department of Education about Constitution Day. Would a review of “federalism” be considered proper and appropriate today, or would it be too ironic?