September 17th is Constitution Day, a day dedicated by Congress to recognize the adoption of the United States Constitution in 1787. In 2004, Congress passed a law requiring all publicly funded schools to observe the day by teaching a curriculum on the U.S. Constitution.
But what is Constitution Day? And since the document drafted by the founders so long ago protected slavery and didn’t include rights for so many Americans, what exactly should we be celebrating?
The ACLU has resources to help you, your family, and your school celebrate Constitution Day this year:
- Constitution Day: What Precisely are We Celebrating? – An op-ed by ACLU of Florida Executive Director Howard Simon explaining the history of the Constitution and how the fight to expand Constitutional rights is a critical part of the Constitution Day legacy.
- Constitution Day, Brought to You By the ACLU – A website for kids and teens (and their parents and teachers) to help teach young people about the Constitution and the rights and freedoms which that document is designed to protect.
- @Constit2tionDay on Twitter– A Twitter account full of interesting information about our Constitution and the celebration of Constitution Day.
- The Constitution of the United States of America– The document itself, adopted by the United States in 1787. This is not only what Constitution Day is all about, but where all of our rights originate.
- Join the ACLU – What better way to celebrate the rights promised to all Americans by the Constitution than by getting involved in protecting them? Become a member yourself of sign up a young person you know to be a part of the next generation of defenders of civil liberties.