EDU Trending: Civics, Civility, and the Constitution
During the school year - guided and inspired by dedicated teachers - student school groups across the country study the Constitution and the men who wrote it. They are preparing for We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution, a competition begun in 1987 to encourage students’ civic engagement.
Students study and debate to understand not only the meaning of our Constitution, but how the men who wrote it were able to represent people with different priorities and still come together with civility and respect to define and enshrine in the Constitution the democratic ideals and principles that would apply to all citizens of our new republic.
Participating students are from urban, suburban, and rural communities. They represent different socio-economic, cultural, racial, religious, and political backgrounds. They all disapprove of the hate-filled rhetoric of today’s politics and the divisive actions of politicians. They want better and are eager to be part of the solution.
To this end, each school group chooses a constitutional issue important to them and prepares a four-minute oral argument to deliver to expert volunteer judges, followed by Q&A. Throughout, students must show that their argument and proposed actions are rooted in the Constitution and are applicable and relevant today.
The presentation process is repeated at local, state, and final stages of the competition - a national three-day elimination marathon.
Finals start at the National Conference Center in Leesburg, VA and end at the National Union Center in D.C. Excited students experience first-hand the import, drama, and high stakes of what is akin to a Congressional hearing. They are democracy in action.
One student sums up what We the People means: “You’ve got to be well-informed if you want to live in this country.”
Watch Episode One at: https://www.youtube.com/watchv=77fVh7_Rdxw&ab_channel=PBS
News for Your Views: The Choice Is Yours
Cool? Hot? Can Nike Just Do It one more time? With brands like Hoka for competition, will the former and newly rehired CEO make the Nike brand so cool that it’s hot again?
Can walking together build a community? In Eureka Springs, AR, people prove that it can by walking and talking together for an hour once a week. Find out who, why, when, and how they do it.
Maybe walking together would work for your town, too.
Ghost guns: Untraceable and unregulated in 35 states. They are the increasing choice among criminals, and a growing presence in school shootings.
Will the Supreme Court treat these guns as dangerous weapons or toys in kits? Why is this even a question?
Should the DOJ try to force Google to divest? Some think that breaking up Google is highly unlikely.
Others believe a breakup of Google is inevitable.
What do you think? And if Google becomes Ogle, will it be good or bad? For consumers? For our kids?
Question of the Day: Presidential Trivia
Every five years, C-SPAN asks a cross section of historians to rank the American Presidents, using the same 10 leadership criteria, found at: https://www.c-span.org/presidentsurvey2021/?page=overall Here is the top ten list from the most recent ranking, published in 2020:
Abraham Lincoln
George Washington
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Theodore Roosevelt
Dwight D. Eisenhower
??????
Thomas Jefferson
John F. Kennedy
Ronald Reagan
Barack Obama
Who do you think claims the sixth spot?
James Madison
Harry S. Truman
Lyndon B. Johnson
William J. Clinton
George W. Bush
For the correct answer, please go to www.merleschell.com/blog/vote-vote
From Me to You: A Positive Take on Climate Change
There is good news and bad news. The bad news is that climate change is already happening. Proof lies in the ferocity and devastating storm surge of recent back-to-back hurricanes Helene and Milton in Florida. And the increasing presence in the U.S. of mosquitos carrying West Nile virus for which there is currently no vaccine.
The good news is the optimistic lens of Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson, a well-known marine biologist and climate expert. She believes that: “…if we implement all the solutions we already have, we could essentially stop the Earth from warming further.”
That is not just good news. It is great, earth saving news!
In her book, What If We Get It Right? Johnson gives voice to a diverse group of scientists, environmental activists, and positive thinkers. They and she detail the solutions at hand and make a strong case for a future world that can be bright, beautiful, safe, and livable for everyone. Combining hope with expertise, joy with clear-eyed know how, Johnson makes it easy to say, ‘Sign me up.’
See my take on the 2024 Election:
https://www.tiktok.com/@merle.schell, https://www.instagram.com/merle.schellhttps://www.facebook.com/people/Merle-Schell/100080652295591/?_rdr