Constitution Day offers annual holiday to teach the First Amendment

Constitution Day is observed annually each Sept. 17, the day the United States Constitution was signed in 1787. Schools receiving federal funds must provide programming on the history of the Constitution on Sept. 17 every year. Begun in 2001, it also offers an annual day that teachers can bring lessons about the First Amendment into their classrooms.

SchoolJournalism.org is a one-stop shop for lesson plans dealing with the First Amendment, censorship and student press rights. Additional lesson plans and resources on the First Amendment are available at 1forall.us.

Jeremy Murphy, a journalism teacher at West Fargo (North Dakota) High School, covers First Amendment topics throughout the school year. His students were even part of getting North Dakota’s John Wall New Voices Act passed in April. His students testified before state representatives and senators in support of the bill that would protect the rights of student journalists and their advisers.

Murphy, who was a 1 For All First Amendment Challenge winner, said it’s important to involve students in the government process whenever possible.

On Constitution Day and every day, teachers can incorporate the First Amendment into their lessons, Murphy said. For example, student journalists should be encouraged to have discussions about what should be printed in their publications and become experienced with talking to people in positions of authority.

“I see this as preparing students to be future citizens in a democracy,” Murphy said.

Jordyn Klackner, a journalism teacher at Francis Howell North High School in St. Charles, Missouri, also incorporates First Amendment activities throughout the school year.

Klackner was also a 1 For All First Amendment Challenge winner, and her efforts helped make the whole student body more aware of the First Amendment. Some activities included debates in which students would present arguments for which one of the First Amendment freedoms is the most important and skits presenting the facts of important First Amendment court cases. Her publication staff used Snapchat for a contest in which students would submit answers to daily questions, such as describing a time when freedom of the press was especially important. Her staff also used social media to promote and educate other students about the First Amendment by tweeting random facts about it.

“I think many of the students that we teach come into our classrooms not knowing anything about the First Amendment, or they take those freedoms for granted,” Klackner said. “It’s our job as teachers to help them to understand what impact our First Amendment freedoms have on today’s world and how they began. It’s important for them to understand that they have rights as students, and to be actively engaged Americans, knowing those rights is important.”

Klackner is still thinking about ways to celebrate Constitution Day this year. Having students decorate cupcakes using words of the First Amendment is one idea. Or she might have students come up with a hashtag and then research and post fun facts about the Constitution or tweet about a freedom they are happy to have.

At the Reynolds High School Journalism Institute, which Klackner attended this summer, H.L. Hall encouraged attendees to memorize the First Amendment. “I got a dollar out of it,” Klackner said. “I thought a fun incentive like that could be good for my students, too.”

There are many resources available online that teachers can use in their classrooms this Constitution Day.

The National Constitution Center provides an interactive Constitution and free lesson plans and activities for teachers.

Constitutionfacts.com offers an online Constitution I.Q. quiz, as well as an annual Constitution Day Poster Design Contest.

The Journalism Education Association’s Scholastic Press Rights Committee recently released its 2015 Constitution Day lessons.