Scott students discover starring role of Constitution

September 22, 2023

Scott Middle School students have a circle of shining stars as the mascot for all of their academic and extracurricular activities.
 
They celebrated a document that plays a starring role in the United States during a special Constitution Week event on Sept. 19.
 
University of Nebraska College of Law students Erin Stanley and Delaney Stekr visited Mark Patton’s social studies classroom for a lesson on one of America’s founding documents. They shared details about the U.S. Constitution with eighth-grade students. They also led an activity that gave students a chance to showcase their legislative knowledge.
 
Class members Delana and Eli said they were happy with what they discovered during the morning.
 
“It’s been really fun,” Delana said. “I like more hands-on learning because it makes it interesting, and we’ve been able to do that today.”
 
“I liked the teachers,” Eli said. “They were good. It was different because we got to learn from a different perspective.”
 
Patton said he was impressed with the way Stanley and Stekr helped students learn about an important topic. The session continued a longstanding partnership between Lincoln Public Schools and the law school. University students have taught a large number of Constitution Week lessons at LPS buildings.
 
“I think Erin and Delaney did a great job,” Patton said. “Teaching can be challenging for anyone, even someone who has been doing it for a long time. I always appreciate how willing and enthusiastic the law students are to come into classrooms without much teaching experience and do such a good job engaging the students.
 
“This is especially difficult as the eighth graders have not covered the topic in class yet. Erin and Delaney continued to represent the law school well with their leadership in the classroom this morning.”
 
Stanley and Stekr shared the history of the Constitution and how it impacts all Americans. Delegates to the Constitutional Convention met in Philadelphia to revise the Articles of Confederation. They signed the final draft of the Constitution on Sept. 17, 1787.
 
The Constitution provides the framework for America’s executive, legislative and judicial branches and the entire election process. It also provides guidance for items such as ratification of treaties, trading regulations and foreign relations.
 
Stanley and Stekr highlighted how the Constitution is flexible yet also difficult to change. The document’s first ten amendments – the Bill of Rights – were ratified on Dec. 15, 1791. The Constitution has been amended just 27 times, most recently in 1992 for a proposal on Congressional compensation.
 
An amendment can be proposed by either a two-thirds majority vote in both the Senate and House of Representatives or by a constitutional convention called for by two-thirds of state legislatures. It must then be ratified by either three-fourths of the states (38 states) or three-fourths of state constitutional conventions.
 
“That’s a big consensus,” Stekr told students. “That’s hard to get. That’s why there aren’t many amendments.”
 
Students gained additional insight by debating real-life amendment proposals that have not passed the ratification process. The Equal Rights Amendment would guarantee women equality in areas such as employment and pay, and a District of Columbia voting rights amendment would treat Washington, D.C., like a state for representation in government.
 
Students were split into groups and had to prepare arguments either for or against each amendment. They then presented their information to the whole class.
 
Stanley said she was pleased to give Scott students valuable background on the Constitution. She also felt strengthening their civic participation knowledge was a good thing.
 
“We want to let them know that just being active in the community is important,” Stanley said. “Whether or not they go to law school, they will still be a part of the country.”
 
Patton said these types of lessons on American history will help all Scott students become shining stars in their communities.
 
“I think it is vitally important to teach topics like the Constitution, as our goal in social studies is to help students become engaged citizens,” Patton said. “The Constitution is the foundation of our government, making it important information to help students develop into those engaged citizens.
 
“Without sounding too cliché, they are our future, and the better they understand the laws of the nation and the process, the better our students will be at making decisions that will improve our communities.”

---