The kids in Rachel Barnes’ fifth-grade class at Cheltenham Elementary School enjoyed hearing about their rights to speak freely and practice their faiths.
But during a special civics exercise led by American Civil Liberties Union volunteers Monday, some students took solace in other rights afforded by the U.S. Constitution.
“Police can’t go to our house because they don’t like us,” said 10-year-old Bridgett Ortiz, “or if the government says they don’t like you because you’re Mexican (or) Russian or Jewish,” she said. “Mexicans have rights too.”
Rachel Chaparro, an ACLU volunteer, reassured her: the Constitution “refers to persons and not citizens.”
Other students who had participated in immigration rallies last spring learned that the right to assemble freely also was granted by the Constitution.
Across America, students in public schools and some colleges are learning about the Constitution. Legislation passed by Congress requires all schools that receive federal funding to commemorate the Sept. 17, 1787, signing of the Constitution.
At Sunset Ridge Elementary in the Adams 50 School District, students discussed the Constitution with a history professor, and at Laredo Middle School in Cherry Creek, students are comparing human rights in China with the rights provided by the Constitution.
Chris Elnicki, social-studies coordinator in the Cherry Creek School District, said Constitution Day is “a chance for all Americans to get connected and see yourself involved with something bigger than your classroom, bigger than your school.”
Staff writer Karen Rouse can be reached at 303-954-1684 or krouse@denverpost.com.
