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HBA Celebrates Constitution Day with Readings, Guides
Constitution Day is a nationally recognized holiday that commemorates the signing of the U.S. Constitution on September 17, 1787. Educators throughout the U.S. are encouraged to teach students about one of the most important and influential events in American history, which established the many rights and freedoms “We the People” enjoy today. The Houston Bar Association will celebrate Constitution Day, September 17, with educational programs in Houston classrooms. A reading program in elementary schools and a partnership with the Houston Chronicle to provide educational guides to middle schools and high schools will highlight the HBA’s commemoration of Constitution Day. Volunteer attorneys will read a book on the Constitution to elementary school classes throughout Harris County at various times on September 17. Volunteers will read during one or two classroom periods and will then leave the book for the school’s library as a donation from the HBA.
The HBA also will once again partner with the Houston Chronicle’s Chronicle in Education Program to provide a classroom guide that will teach middle school and high school students about the Constitution and how it affects their daily lives. “The Constitution in the News” is an educational supplement that examines court rulings on issues such as student drug testing, file sharing, wiretapping, First Amendment matters, student cheating, and gun laws, as well as how the news media has covered the issues. The guide shows how the Constitution still influences all aspects of life. The guide is made available free of charge to classrooms through the Houston Chronicle’s Readers are Leaders Foundation and the Houston Bar Association. In exchange for funding the program, the HBA is featured as a sponsor in promotional advertising, student supplements, a teacher calendar, emails, a Web site and teacher workshops. Last year, the partnership reached more than 17,000 students in the Houston area. For information for teachers, visit www.chron.com/cie.
Constitution Day Links
