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Today is CONSTITUTION DAY!

TODAY is US Constitution Day - 222nd anniversary of the SIGNING of our US Constitution in 1787!

I do HOPE that all educational institutions throughout the US have appropriately observed this special day: US CONSTITUTION DAY. I would think that it ought to be OBSERVED just because of the significance of our US CONSTITUTION. At the same time, WE THE PEOPLE need to be aware of the fact that there is a legal federal requirement/mandate for EVERY EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION receiving US$ to appropriately observe US Constitution Day. There is no meaningful enforcement mechanism. I would alert WE THE PEOPLE that this is a case in which ONLY IF WE THE PEOPLE maintain “eternal vigilance” will our schools observe US CONSTITUTION DAY. Did the school where YOU or your child or your grandchild attends observe US CONSTITUTION DAY today? IF NOT, I urge that you contact the administration of the school. I am asking my grandsons – grade 4 and Kindergarten. I KNOW I observed US Constitution Day yesterday in my classes at UW-Whitewater and UW-Waukesha. I do NOT meet classes on Thursdays.

My PREAMBLE QUIZ which was based on my assignment that my students – yes, they are COLLEGE-LEVEL students, memorize the Preamble of our US Constitution – had MIXED results. Some students did NOT even make the time to memorize this very brief, crisp statement. The Preamble states WHO? (Who is doing this?), WHY? (It identifies the 6 basic motivations/goals of the Founders in writing the Constitution.) and WHAT? (It states specifically what is being done?) If you are not sure about the text, read it: The Preamble along with the complementary Wikipedia article about the Preamble for your easy.

I was interested to learn (from my daily e-mail from Martin Kelly, "About American History") that on September 17, 1796, GEORGE WASHINGTON released his statement, “The Address of General Washington to the people of America on his declining the presidency of the United States.” Very quickly, the general public cited it as, “Washington’s FAREWELL ADDRESS.” That was exactly the 9th anniversary of the date when the Constitution was presented to George Washington, presiding officer of the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, and his colleagues for SIGNATURE in 1787. The document was sent to the STATES for ratification so that in 1789 the new government went into operation. George Washington was INAUGURATED President of the US on April 30, 1789.

The “Farewell Address” was originally prepared to be issued in 1792 as Washington was completing his first term. He was persuaded by several of his cabinet members that he was NEEDED as President to protect the continuance of the republic. He accepted election to a 2nd term.

He issued the “Farewell Address”2 months before the Electoral College would be casting its votes in 1789 so that they would KNOW that he would not accept a 3rd term. His decision to keep his service at 2 terms was seen as a very significant PRECEDENT which was followed by US presidents until FDR ran and was re-elected for a 3rd term in 1940 and then, of course, a 4th term in 1944. The multiple terms of FDR led to the passage of the 22nd Amendment to our US Constitution limited a US President to 2 terms. Many proponents of the Amendment cited George Washington’s precedent.

Washington’s “Farewell Address” was seen as his valedictory of his valedictory to his 45 years of service to the new republic. It is often cited today as advice to the US re. policies. I believe one needs to assess the validity of applying Washington’s ideas in our 21st century. I encourage to read the full text George Washington’s Farewell Address.

Have you yourself observed US CONSTITUTION today in one way or another? Why don’t you report via a comment? THANKS!

Here we go…

Mr. E.