September 17th marks the 239th anniversary of the signing of the Constitution. The Constitution is the foundation of our republic, establishing limited government, individual liberty, and the rule of law. As we reflect on the enduring wisdom of our Founding Fathers, Constitution Day reminds us of the rights and responsibilities entrusted to each generation and the importance of preserving the freedoms that define our nation.
Just one day before Constitution Day, President Donald Trump signed an executive order commemorating the day by saying:
During Constitution Week, we proudly commemorate the 239th anniversary of the signing of the United States Constitution, the very foundation of our Republic and an eternal reminder that all power throughout our land flows from We the People. Over two centuries later, we remain more committed than ever to protecting and cherishing the fundamental values of America and the vision of our forefathers for a just, prosperous, and free Nation.
Similarly, the Department of Education issued a statement calling on schools to strengthen civic literacy and say the Pledge of Allegiance routinely. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon stated:
To thrive for the next 250 years, we must understand, cherish, and claim the ideals, history, responsibilities, and civic traditions that unite us. With 31 simple words, for a minute a day, students connect themselves to this great American story, take ownership of their citizenship, feel pride in their country, and become architects of the nation’s future.
The Department of Education has also compiled educational resources for all grade levels and families. Since 2004, the federal law has required schools receiving federal funds to provide classroom instruction regarding the Constitution each year on Constitution Day. The materials are gathered from great organizations like PragerU, Constituting America, and the Judicial Learning Center, while also pulling content from landmark Supreme Court cases and the Library of Congress.
This type of instruction is not limited to one day, however. In order for our children to learn our Constitutional freedoms, they must be able to read its words. It’s no surprise that both abilities have been dumbed down by the far-Left’s education agenda for decades.
We all agree that children should learn to read, but how it’s taught has been embroiled in public and political controversy for decades. The method of phonics education was created in the late-1500s — before the Constitution was even written. By the 1800s, most American schools used this method, and at the end of the century, only 13% of Americans aged 10 years and older were deemed “illiterate.”
Unfortunately, that number has doubled in recent years, with 28% of Americans aged 16 years and older reading at the lowest proficiency level. This was, in part, due to the replacement of phonics education with the “whole language” approach that taught children to memorize sight words and guess the words based on pictures. This type of method made its way into the Common Core education standards under the Obama administration. Eagle Forum founder Phyllis Schlafly frequently pointed out how flawed these techniques were and how they were hurting children. She taught her children how to read and published her own reading instruction book titled First Reader. In a 2003 article, she wrote:
Teaching children to read is not rocket science and it doesn’t require expensive equipment, materials or professionals. Teaching a first-grader to read requires teaching the child the sounds and syllables of the English language so he can put them together like building blocks and be able to read multi-syllable words like hamburger or toothbrush…
Current public-school ideology is based on the false belief that most children learn how to read automatically or naturally, and the non-automatic readers should be put in special education or remedial reading, which rakes in more federal dollars for the school. Anyone who questions this policy is vilified as part of a right-wing phonics conspiracy.
Since then, Common Core has been dismantled, and phonics has once again found favor among school educators. Phonics education now falls under the umbrella term of “the science of reading.” A total of 43 states and the District of Columbia have implemented mandatory phonics instruction in schools. A bill to promote this type of science-based early literacy instruction has begun moving through Congress.
Representative Erin Houchin’s (R-IN) Science of Reading Act (H.R. 7890) specifies that federal comprehensive literacy grants that are given to states prioritize “phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary, fluency, comprehension, and writing as essential components to skilled reading.” It also rejects the “three-cueing model,” which is another name for the “whole language” model. The U.S. House of Representatives was set to pass H.R. 7890 this week; however, members could not agree on the schedule for the week, leading them to recess early.
Another small but mighty component of learning about our Constitution and founding documents is learning how to read and write in cursive. Not only does the act of writing in cursive use both sides of our brains, increase reading and spelling literacy, and boost writing speed, but children connect with history in a meaningful way. They can read the Constitution for themselves rather than rely on copied versions elsewhere. While Common Core eliminated cursive instruction in schools, 32 states stepped up to mandate this type of handwriting through state laws and academic standards.
It’s baffling that we even have to address these problems through legislation. However, the ability to read, write, comprehend what we read, and think critically are essential skills for cultivating a strong society. These skills serve as defenses against aggressive ideologies that seek to undermine our freedoms and weaken our families. They also help guard against cultures that prioritize emotion and selfish desires over truth and reason. Our enemies would love to see generations left vulnerable to indoctrination- unable to understand our history, appreciate diverse perspectives, or discover the truths found in the Bible.
In one week, we will be kicking off Eagle Council 54 in Nashville, Tennessee, from September 24-26. Many experts on a variety of topics will be featured, including Rhyen Staley from Defending Education. He will share his experience as a public and private high school teacher and the value of parental rights in today’s schools. We have a few spots left, so register right away on our website here!
