BREMERTON, Wash. — Clutching the microphone, Rhys Kerr found himself in the hot seat Tuesday over the separation of church and state.
A majority of Americans are Christian. So, Emalene Renna asked, could Congress enact a law requiring everyone to be a Christian?
Rhys hesitated, but didn’t appear nervous. Staring into the distance, he replied that such an action would be unconstitutional. A few seconds more of silence to gather his thoughts and Rhys said: “We have the freedom of religion so the government can’t just say you have to be Christian.” Besides, he added, the judicial branch would find the law unconstitutional.
“You really get it don’t you? You really get the difference between the Constitution and the will of people,” Renna said.
Rhys and the rest of his classmates in Rita Zipp-Dearey’s fourth-/fifth-grade class at View Ridge Elementary in Bremerton were all on the hot seat at one point or another Tuesday.
As part of a mock congressional hearing, they argued for and against the elements of the Constitution and took questions from judges, including Renna, who is a retired school administrator and teacher, retired attorney Scott Smith and retired nurse Joyce Maddock.
For the past several years, Zipp-Dearey has participated in “We the People,” a 22-year-old U.S. Department of Education program focused on teaching civics. The program provides Zipp-Dearey with in-depth civics education and curriculum. Armed with those resources, she and her students embark on a long-term study of the Constitution, including its history, its organization of government, and the protection of basic rights and citizens’ responsibilities.
“This is much more in-depth” than the regular elementary civics materials, Zipp-Dearey said. “I think the kids will remember more with this because they really participate in it.”
Added Jenny Springer, who helps her husband Tom coordinate “We the People” in the 6th Congressional District: “It also takes a very special teacher who is willing to invest it.”
View Ridge is the only elementary school in the 6th District to participate in “We the People.” Several local middle and high schools participate in “Project Citizen,” also part of the “We the People” program, Jenny Springer said.
The View Ridge students’ study culminated Tuesday in the mock hearing at which teams of four or five presented research on the Constitution and took questions from judges.
Speaking as part of the student team presenting the responsibilities of citizens, Maddyson Fergason referred to the desire of Thomas Jefferson and other founders that all citizens be educated. Education helps citizens become involved. “I think each and every citizen should at least try to participate in our government,” added Jacob Burton.
Teammate Donovan Cole said he planned to vote once he turned 18. Maddyson pointed out that doing so is his right under the 26th Amendment to the Constitution.
“My family has always been a little political,” said Donovan. “My dad once pulled me from football practice to watch a speech.”
Information from: Kitsap Sun, www.kitsapsun.com/
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
