Pass on rights and responsibilities of a free society

By Marjorie Rendell

The school buses are once again traveling the roads of Philadelphia. Their return brings mixed feelings to all of us: the sadness we experience at the end of summer, but the excitement of a new school year. Our memories lead us to recall exactly what in our earliest school years shaped us to follow our path.

What are our children learning in our schools today? Are they learning that they are citizens who have responsibilities as well as rights? I fear they are not.

We know that civics and an understanding of our Constitution are not being taught in our classrooms. In his farewell address, George Washington argued for the creation of "institutions for the general diffusion of knowledge" and made a classic argument for investing in education in a democratic society. "In proportion as the structure of a government gives force to public opinion, it is essential that public opinion should be enlightened," he said.

Washington argued that if the voice of the people is to be given significant weight in government, the people must be educated to be able to play a responsible role. The development of the American public school system in the 19th century was based on the vision that all education had civic purpose and that every teacher was a civics teacher.

Forty out of 50 state constitutions underline the importance of civic literacy. In fact, 13 state constitutions identify the central purpose of their educational system as the promotion of good citizenship, democracy, and free government.

Regrettably, instead of occupying a central role in the schools, civic education has been relegated to the fringes of the curriculum, if included at all.

If not educated to be citizens, how will succeeding generations continue and maintain our democracy? Will our Constitution be passed on to this next generation in a way that ensures that it knows and understands its rights and responsibilities? Will the next generation be enlightened? Have our schools - in the midst of budget turmoil - lost sight of their mission to build good citizens?

As parents, grandparents, and as citizens, we owe it to our children to pass on to them an understanding of their rights and responsibilities.

With the passing of another Constitution Day, let's all take a moment to re-read the document (Google "the Constitution") and discuss it with our children. Or pick up a book of children's literature and use it to teach lessons about rights and responsibilities, justice and the rule of law.

The sacred trust that was passed down to us by those remarkable citizens in Independence Hall needs to be renewed in each generation. We ask new citizens to our country to take a test and learn our history and government. Don't let another Constitution Day go by without ensuring that the next generation has a wealth of civic knowledge and an understanding of their rights and responsibilities.

Isn't that our responsibility?