Evening star., 1925-11-16
CONSTITUTION DAY
| IN SCHOOLS OF CITY
Langley and Randall High
Heads Stress Teaching
of Basic Law.

Emphasis placed on the study of the
Constitution in the District public
schools was pointed out today in state
ments issued by Henry w. Draper.
principal of the Langley Junior High
School. and G.. Smith Wormley, prin-
cipal of the Randall Junior High
School. The statements were pre-
pared at the request of Supt. OF
Schools Frank W. Ballou. in connec-
ton with the observance OF Constitu-
ton day Of American Education week.
"It is indeed most appropriate thai
the opening day of Education week
should he designated as Constitution
day" said Mr.. Draper's statement.
What a splendid thought 1t Is. that a
reverence for the supreme law OF the
land should come first In the heart OF
every patriotic American. And surely
1t Is the responsibility of the school
in it's training for citizenship TO foster
this sentiment In every possible way.
Training for citizenship necessarily
implies a study Of the Constitution
md q reverence for L.
Not Fetish Worship.
Not that this reverence should be
in the sense OF mere fetish worship,
but that Il should exist because of
knowledge that the Constitution guar
antees TO every citizen both civil and
religious freedom under "A benign ana
enduring form of government. An
understanding OF It's great principles
Is within the grasp Of a pupil In the
elementary grades. II presented III
terms of everyday life.
The curriculum of the Washington
public schools provides for the study
Of the Constitution In the elementary
grades and in the junior and senior
high schools. In the seventh grade
the historical setting is given through
study of the work of the Constitu-
tional Convention in connection with
the critical period OF American MIS-
tory The course of study in the
eighth grade provides for broader
comprehension Of the fundamentaI
principles of the Constitution and Is
vitalized by the application OF these
principles to the social, economc and
political development of the United
states. The business sections OF the
ninth semester of the junior ana
senior high schois round out the work
of the courses In the seventh ana
eighth grades by a thorough study
of the Constitution as whole. IL
seems fitting that pupils who may
have to leave school at this time
,
ship as a final touch ia their schoo!
work.
I'm the eleventh semester OF the
senior high school every pupil is re
| uuired to study the Consttt ution as
a part of the course in American his
| tory. The twelfth semester offers an
opportunity to continue this study IN
a manner comparable 10 the way III
! which It is offered in many universi-
| ties. At present at least 90 per cent
| of the senior class in the Central High
School are electing this course and
incidentally, fitting themselves TO par
ticipate with increasing success IN the
oratoriCal contests on the subject OF
the Constitution now being held an
| nually.
Study By Foreign Born.
THE curriculum of the Americana
zation School also provides for a
study of the Constitution by foreign
! born adults This opportunity is OF
| great value to them In their prep
aration for naturalization.
| "Iu view OF these facts the citi'
| zens of Washington have every rea-
son TO feel assured that their public
| school system is meeting its responsi-
| bility IN the training for citizenship.
; Mr.. Wor1nley explained that the
| Con stitution IS held up to the wash
! ington school pupils as the greatest
safeguard OF personal rights, indi-
! vidual liberty and the common good.
; Some study Is made of such sources
! as the Royal Court of Justice, the
! system of trial by jury and the COM
! mon law Of England by Henry II, he
! said. The Great Charter of 1915, the
| Petition OF Rights of 1923. and the
! Bill Of Rights Of 1858 are also studied
| In order that the child may fully
! appreclate the validity and stability
| Of the democratic principles upon
which our Constitution Is founded.
Formation Of Constitution.
| causes which led to the formation
! of our Constitution and the chaotic
! conditions at the time of It's forula-
! ton are contrasted with the more
! peaceful conditions which followed, as
| a means Of impressing deeply upon
the minds Of young Americans the
value Of this instrument as a restorer
Of peace, q stabiliZer of instability, and
a promoter OF prosperity and happi-
| ness.
The method by which the Consti-
! tuition was adopted Is not only studied
but dramatized. TO the end that the
| student may feel the truth of its being
! the expression OF the will Of the peo-
pie. It's provisions are analyzed to
show that true democracy can result
only TO the degree to which these
provisions are observed and enforced,
| not by the Chief Executive alone. but
by all the people Of America.
| "In brief, the Constitution Is SO
/ taught as to reveal to every child
/ the great opportunities which this
great government affords, and the cor
responding responsibilities which rest
upon each and every one to defend
and preserve II in order that the per.
petuity of American ideals may be as
! sured"