Teacher to attend workshop on Constitution

0 Comments | Oakland Tribune, May 20, 2005 | by Aaron Swarts, STAFF WRITERTRACY

FROM the death of Terry Shiavo to the ongoing debates over judicial nominations, a virtual spotlight seems to have been focused on the nation's Constitution in recent months.

This summer, North school teacher Robert Garrett will attend a special workshop at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Va., with hope of bringing a better understanding of the historic document back to his students.

The program, entitled, "We The People: The Citizen and the Constitution Summer Institute for Elementary Teachers," will be held from June 20-28, shortly before North welcomes middle school students for the first time in July.

"This is an opportunity for me to increase my skills and understanding so I can bring that back to my classroom," Garrett said. "The program will cover a variety of topics, including individual rights and the responsibilities that go along with individual citizenship."

Garrett, who already covers the Constitution with his current fifth-grade class, will be teaching the same subject to eighth- grade students next year. All eighth-graders are expected to pass a test on the subject before moving on to high school.

The institute describes itself as, "a rigorous professional development program that brings teachers to James Madison University to work with constitutional scholars from a variety of disciplines."

Participants complete academic readings, attend morning lectures and participate in afternoon sessions. Topics addressed in the program also include:

-What were the founders' basic ideas about the government?

-How was the Constitution written?

-How did framers organize the government?

-How does the Constitution protect basic rights?

-What are the responsibilities of the citizens?

This will be the third such workshop Garrett has attended on the subject.

"Hopefully I can bring better insight back, maybe learn new ways to get the ideas across to the students," he said.

"'We the People' has got a lot of good information to offer. In the past, I have been very happy with them. Hopefully, this will make me a better teacher."