Editor’s note: Below is a memorandum by Faculty Senate Speaker Angie Hill Price to Texas A&M University Faculty Senate members
On May 24, 2005, the Assistant Deputy Secretary for Innovation and Improvement in the U.S. Department of Education announced that, pursuant to legislation passed by Congress, educational institutions receiving federal funding are required to hold an educational program pertaining to the United States Constitution on September 17 of each year. A list of activities planned for Constitution Week, September 17 ‒ 23, is available online.
Compliance aside, our students should learn about the importance of Constitutional government, and who better to teach them than us—the faculty of Texas A&M University. As part of the core curriculum, our students are required to take Political Science 206—American National Government. However, during Constitution Week, I encourage you to include in your classes a brief discussion of the importance of the United States Constitution, especially how it relates to your academic discipline or the practice of your profession. For your information, I have listed a variety of online resources at the end of this email message.
In a survey released by the National Constitution Center, evidence of a lack of knowledge about the Constitution is quite apparent. More students have greater knowledge of pop culture than the United States Constitution. Our faculty, students and staff are benefited on a daily basis by living under the constitution of our United States of America. Please join your colleagues to help increase student awareness and appreciation of this important document of freedom.
Sincerely,
Angie Hill Price
Speaker of the Faculty Senate
Resources for Observing Constitution Day
