CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Students from a handful of southern West Virginia high schools were challenged Friday to know their Constitution. Constitution Day was celebrated at the state Culture Center in Charleston.
Friday marked the fourth year the state Department of Education has conducted a Constitution Day program related to the official Sept. 17 celebration. Former West Virginia U.S. Sen. Robert Byrd was the driving force behind the recognition of the document in schools nationwide.
“They basically participated in a lot of activities that focused on the Constitution and being able to understand their rights and obligations as U.S. citizens,” state Department of Education Assistant Director of Secondary Learning Joey Wiseman said of Friday’s event.
The state Board of Education approved new content standards and objectives for social studies last year.
“We’ve tried to put more of a focus on service learning, citizens’ rights, the Constitution and things like that. I think we’ll see a big turnaround in those areas in the next few years,” Wiseman said.
About 180 students from high schools in McDowell, Summers and Wyoming counties led the discussion Friday toward voting.
Sen. Byrd’s Constitution Day legislation requires all schools in the nation that receive public funding to teach about the Constitution on either Constitution Day or the week of Constitution Day.