ACLU Kicks-Off 11th Year Matching Volunteer Speakers with Host Teachers to Inspire Young San Diegans to Learn About Their Constitutional Rights
San Diego County CA— More than ten thousand middle and high school students across in San Diego County will better understand the wisdom, complexity and enduring value of the United States Constitution this week and next – thanks to special ACLU program pairing volunteer speakers with host teachers in celebration of Constitution Day.
Since 2006, the ACLU of San Diego & Imperial Counties has recruited attorneys, elected officials, civic leaders and others to give classroom presentations about the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights on or around September 17. They are asked to be nonpartisan, to share relevant experiences and examples of the Constitution as a living document, and to do their best to engage students in thoughtful dialogue. To support their efforts, the ACLU has curated and created a variety of Constitution Day resources that are publicly accessible on its website. These include a Student Study Guide, a Constitution Day Powerpoint, a fun, interactive Constitution Trivia quiz created just for the 2017 program, and a recommended presentation outline. Also provided are links to the Library of Congress, the National Archives, the State Bar of California, the National Constitution Center and several other independent sources of information.
The San Diego ACLU founded its Constitution Day program in response to a 2004 congressional mandate that all schools receiving federal funds provide educational programming about the U.S. Constitution on or around the anniversary of the date it was signed – September 17, 1787. Today, the San Diego model is replicated by ACLU affiliates across the nation.
“Over the years, we have brought hundreds of volunteers who are passionate about the Constitution together with more than one hundred thousand students they hope to inspire to know and understand our most fundamental national values,” said Norma Chavez-Peterson, the San Diego ACLU’s executive director. “This is especially meaningful today as communities in every corner of our county engage in important discussions on issues ranging from freedom of speech and expression, to the right to peaceful assembly and protest, to the rights of immigrants and refugees, to LGBTQ rights, to student rights.”
Demand is high and volunteer speakers are still needed next week. To sign up, contact Alison Ross at (619) 232 2121 ext. 200 or by email at aross@aclusandiego.org.