Constitution Day: Teaching the Next Generation About Freedom

There are some things we teach in school because they are required, and then there are things we teach because they are important. Understanding the Constitution of the United States falls firmly into the second category.

Today, September 17, is Constitution Day, marking the day in 1787 when our nation’s founders signed the United States Constitution. For me, the Constitution is not simply a document sitting behind glass in Washington, D.C., or something students just memorize for a civics test. It is the foundation of our government and one of the reasons we enjoy the freedoms and rights that we sometimes take for granted.

That is why I am especially proud of the way Citrus County Schools approach Constitution Day. Here, it is not simply one day on the calendar. It is part of a larger effort that includes Freedom Week and Founders Month, giving our students additional opportunities to learn about the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and the principles upon which our nation was founded.

I think that matters more than ever. Our children need to know what these documents say, but they also need to understand why they were written and what they mean. What does freedom really mean? Why did our founders create three branches of government? Why did they place limits on government power? Why are certain individual rights specifically protected? And perhaps most importantly, what responsibilities come with those rights?

Those are important conversations for young people to have, and they should be approached with curiosity, respect, and an appreciation for the fact that our nation has never stopped debating what those founding principles mean in practice. Our responsibility in our schools is not to tell students what to think. It is to make sure they have the knowledge, historical context, and critical-thinking skills necessary to think for themselves and become informed citizens.

One of my favorite traditions associated with Constitution Day in Citrus County is something very simple: a small, pocket-sized copy of the United States Constitution.

Thanks to the continued generosity and support of Citrus County Supervisor of Elections Maureen “Mo” Baird, every Citrus County student taking Civics and Government will once again receive a copy. Think about that for a moment. A student can put the Constitution in a backpack, a desk drawer, or even a pocket and carry it around. It is a small book representing a very big idea and a tangible reminder that the freedoms we enjoy did not simply happen. They are rooted in principles established nearly 240 years ago and preserved through generations of Americans who have believed those principles were worth defending.

I want to thank Supervisor Baird for continuing this tradition, along with Superintendent Dr. Scott Hebert, Coordinator of Academic Programs and Instructional Materials Dr. Al Balk, our teachers, administrators, and everyone who works to make civic education meaningful for our students. Our students also have access to the Constitution and other founding documents on their school-issued devices, putting these important resources literally at their fingertips.

There is still something meaningful about holding that little Constitution in your hand. Maybe that is because citizenship is ultimately personal. It is about understanding the rights we have, but also recognizing the responsibilities we carry. It is about understanding that living in a constitutional republic means we have both the freedom to express our views and the responsibility to respect the rights of others.

That brings me to another reason Constitution Day means so much in Citrus County. Our schools have a long tradition of honoring the men and women who have served our country. Citrus County Schools are proud to be the first Purple Heart School District in the nation, and every one of our schools has been designated a Florida Purple Star School.

Those designations are more than signs on a wall. They remind us that the freedoms protected by our Constitution have often come with tremendous sacrifice. Generations of Americans have worn a uniform, left their families, served far from home, and in some cases given their lives so that the rest of us could continue to enjoy the freedoms represented by that great document.

That is an important lesson for our children. We should teach them about the Constitution, the Declaration of Independence, and the Bill of Rights, but we should also teach them to appreciate the people who have defended the freedoms those documents represent. Education and gratitude belong together.

That is why Constitution Day and Freedom Week matter. They give us an opportunity to stop for a moment and remember that the freedoms we enjoy are not just words in a history book. They are part of the foundation of our country and part of the responsibility we pass from one generation to the next.

Nearly 240 years after the Constitution was signed, its pages are still being studied by students in Citrus County classrooms. This week, some of those students will put a copy of that Constitution into their pockets and carry it home.

I hope they do.

Because sometimes a small book can carry a very big reminder: freedom is something worth understanding, something worth appreciating, and something worth teaching the next generation to value and protect.

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