Kba Celebrates Constitution Day
| Publication year | 2011 |
| Pages | 23 |
| Citation | Vol. 80 No. 4 Pg. 23 |
KBA Celebrates Constitution Day
The Kansas Bar Association has recently decided to shift its emphasis from Law Day, typically held the first week in May, to Constitution Day, which is on or around September 17, based on input from teachers and the KBA's Law-Related Education Committee. Constitution Day, established by federal statute in 2004, commemorates the formation and signing of the U.S. Constitution on September 17, 1787. The law urges state and local observance of Constitution Day, in stating:
State and local observances
The civil and educational authorities of states, counties, cities, and towns are urged to make plans for the proper observance of Constitution Day and Citizenship Day and for the complete instruction of citizens in their responsibilities and opportunities as citizens of the United States and of the state and locality in which they reside.
36 U.S.C. § 106
The Kansas Bar has been committed for many years to law-related education because as lawyers we realize that the survival of our system of governance, the preservation of our freedoms, and the understanding of our responsibilities depend on our young people getting an effective civic education. Celebrating Constitution Day is a good way to help meet that goal. Unless we educate every generation of our citizens about our Constitution, we could lose our country's most valuable resource.
On a practical level, our experience with teachers has taught us that in early May, teachers are trying to wrap up the school year and meet their deadlines for state standards, and students are becoming increasingly disinterested in school. Focusing our outreach efforts in mid-September meets teachers' preferences for having guest speakers or other law-related education events earlier in the school year.
The KBA recognizes strong support among some local bars for Law Day, which is celebrated around May 1. Law Day was first celebrated in 1958. The date of May 1 was selected to contrast our rule of law to the Soviet Union's May Day parade of its war weapons. The Cold War has now ended and the date of May 1 lacks the legal significance to our citizens that September 17 has. Focusing on Constitution Day will educate Kansans on a relevant and meaningful day and carry out Congress' intent. Nonetheless, in recognition of the long and strong Law Day tradition in some local bars...
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