Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1921-09-01
With Our State
Contemporaries
HAVE YOU READ IT?

for capital, or otherwise Infamous
crime, unless on presentment or IN
dictment of a grand jury, except III
cases arising in the land and naval
forces, or in the militia, when in ac-
tual service in time of war and public
danger; nor shall any person be sub
iect for the same offense TO be put
twice in jeopardy of life or limb; nor
shall be compelled in any criminal
case to be a witness against himself
nor to be deprived of life, liberty or
property without due process of law;
nor shall private property be taken
for public use without just compen-
sation."
Have you ever read that? Do you
know where to find IL? Are you sure
it has been quoted word for word
Unhappily, there are all too many
persons in this country who are not
familiar with that quotation, which Is
part of the constitution Of the Unit
ed States. And the same persons are
wholly unacquainted with the rest Of
the constitution, which is the guar
antee of their liberty Of person and
property, which is their shield and
their protector. That should not be
so. Every citizen Of the United
States should know the constitution,
not word for word, but should be con-
versant with every one Of its pro-
visions.
Our schools are partly to blame
for the fact that so many citizens do
not know their constitution. There
/ has never been a nationwide concert
ed movement to make the study Of
this fundamental law necessary
part Of the education Of every child.
But, through the good offices Of the
National Security league, which has
it's headquarters at II East Forty
ninth street, New York, we are prom
ised that soon steps will be taken to
bring about the adoption Of stan
dard method of impartng to every
public school pupil the principles Of
the constitution. Michigan, we are
pleased to record, is preparing to re-
wise its public school courses so that
knowledge Of the constitution will
be a prerequisite Of completing the
eighth grade The new courses Will
be in use in the fall.
But national survey by the Ma
tional Security league just completed
has demonstrated that in none Of the
states is the study Of our basic law,
on the proper basis, made compul-
sorry. 1t is a rather sad commentary
upon the whole people that they have
not realized before how necessary it
is for every child TO know the con-
stitution. And nearly all of us have
/ neglected to acquaint ourselves
thoroughly with this Claw of the
land,' which is as vital to US as our
bread and butter, if not more so, for
without the security which is guar
anteed to US by that immortal docu-
ment we should not be able to earn
or to keep our bread and butter long
enough to eat it.
Some months ago the National Sc
curity league started to find out how
knowledge Of the constitution was
impaired to the pupils of the public
schools. It asked the state superin-
tendents Of education these prelimin-
airy questions:
AT what age and in what
grade, do pupils in your state begin
study Of the constitution Of the Unit
cd States?
"2-Is there a course Of study and,
if so, does it require detailed study
of the constitution? May we have a
copy Of the course?
"3-Are any helps in methods of
presenting the constitution provided
for the teachers? If so. are you will
ing to let us see copies Of the same?
ais a reasonable knowledge of
the constitution requirement of
graduation from grammar schools -
In announcing the result Of its
survey, the league says the reports
covered "A states and Alaska, Porto
Rico and the District Of Columbia
No definite information was received
from Colorado, New Mexico, Tennes-
see or West Virginia. But, from the
information vouchsafed by the educa-
tional authorities in the A states,
the district and two territories, the
league concludes that there is appar-
emily lack of definiteness in the
understanding of the necessity Of
constitutional teaching and the best
manner in which to bring it about,
and consequently no uniformity Of
method.
while the educational authorities
of many states have instituted very
satisfactory courses Of study on the
subject and it is evident that interest
in the teaching Of the constitution is
on the increase" the leagues report
declares, at is very clear that much
remains to be done if the children of
America are to be properly informed
concerning the fundamental princi-
Piles Of their government"
The league says it will make every
effort to improve this condition in CO.
operation with the school authorities