STATUS:
CFW Pending
SJR 3 was passed in 2007, However it is not mandatory, it merely “urges each local board of education to develop and institute a Celebrate Freedom Week curriculum.” We believe that while this measure is a step in the right direction it is not enough.
MORE INFORMATION:
Without a push by the education agency, it is very unlikely that many schools in Maryland are following this legislation, so your local citizen actions are critical to actually achieving the goal of Maryland children learning the Declaration of Independence and Constitution.
RECOMMENDED ACTIONS:
- Contact Maryland legislators and encourage them to pass Celebrate Freedom Week. Send them a copy of model legislation found here and use the sample contact letter found here but modify it in any way you like to make it more personal. You can find your legislator’s contact info here.
- Contact your local school district and ask them what they have planned for Constitution Day.
- Ask if they would allow you to find local veterans who could come speak in classes or assemblies about why they were willing to die for freedom and the American Constitutional principles. Then contact the local VFW and American Legion about the opportunity.
- Send them links to Constitution Day resources from other states, such as Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Kentucky.
- Ask your local school district to ask the state department of education to create a web page for educators with resources for Constitution Day in your state.
- Add comments and photos to this page about what your local school district is doing for Constitution Day and how legislators are responding to your request for CFW
