U.S.

Constitution 1

Provisions for Education: The U.S. Constitution

Rita Thompson, Amanda Campo, Michael McGlasson, Byron Williams, Tinelle Walker,

Tawasha Thomas

Team A

University of Phoenix

MAT 501

Jeffery Harrah

January 31, 2009

 Provisions for Education: The U.S. Constitution

Yeats, philosopher, once said, “Education is not the filling of the pail, but the

lighting of the fire” (www.quotations page.com). Teachers are the key to our children’s

future; they are the ones who will ignite their love for learning. Teaching contains two

major concepts of learning, the arts and the science. The art is defined in the Encarta

Encyclopedia as “the product of creative human activity in which material is shaped or

selected to convey an idea, emotion, or visually interesting form”. This describes exactly

what a teacher does in a day; they create “human activity”. While science is defined as,

“a study of anything that can be examined, tested, or verified” (Encarta, 2003). The

teacher is always studying the situation, examining what they can do, and verifying that

their job has been complete. Teaching is an art and science that is learned and then

developed through a teacher learning style.

The writers of this document brainstormed an idea for an activity that clearly

demonstrates teaching as an art and as a science. The writers’ goals are to construct an

activity that involves imagination and skill in creating student learning. After much

discussion and brainstorming, the group decided on an art and science activity, U.S.

Constitution and the first ten Amendments. The students will be taught how to memorize

the Constitution “We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect

union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense,

promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our

posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.”
 (Byron’s addition) This exercise will help students learn their rights under

the U. S. Constitution. Students will be taught that law governs the educational

systems of the United States, both public and nonpublic. The exercise also broadens

the knowledge of each student to learn the U.S. Constitution is the fundamental law

for the nation, and a state legislation has no right to change the Constitution.

Students will learn their rights and when a state legislature makes a law that applies

to education and citizens, these laws must be in accordance with both the U.S.

Constitution and that state’s constitution.

(Byron’s addition) Students will also learn that all the amendments to the

U.S. are particularly significant to the governance of education, both public and

private, in the United States. The team’s goals are also to inform students the

importance of the interpretation each amendment by the courts, and how those

decisions have had profound impacts on the roles and purpose of schools. This

exercise will enlighten students of the responsibilities and rights of teachers, other

students, and school administrators.

The class learned the U.S. Constitution through associating it with a song. The

student’s all learned the Constitution by singing it to the tune “Yankee Doodle Dandy.”

Once the class memorizes the U.S. Constitution they will begin researching the ten

amendments of the Constitution.

 Research the Amendments of the Constitution.

 Interpreted the Amendment into their own words.

Create a picture or symbol to represent what the Amendment means to students.