On Friday, all schools that receive federal funding are required by federal law (public law 108-447) to observe Constitution Day by doing something – anything ? related to the U.S. Constitution. The architect of this law is Robert Byrd, who, as one article points out, carries a copy of the Constitution in his pocket.
Has Byrd read the Constitution lately? There is no mention of public education in the Constitution. The Founders wisely delegated responsibility for public education to the states. Byrd has actually opened the door to the despotism that the Founders feared, namely using the power of the federal government to force the politic of a few on the young minds of a nation.
Constitution Day itself is harmless; all will agree that students need to know much more about the Constitution. Nevertheless, the ends do not justify the means, and the numerous politicians that support this law should know better.
