by Jason Imler, LEAP-Kids Program Manager and David K. Trevaskis, Esq., LEAP-Kids Executive Director

Each year, the Pennsylvania Bar Association (PBA) promotes a series of law-related and civic education events promoting the rule of law in our society. Please check out the PBA webpage at www.pabar.org or the LEAP-Kids webpage at www.leapkids.com for more information. This year’s statewide kickoff for the "I Signed the Constitution" program was held at Hollidaysburg Area High School’s event.

Hollidaysburg Area High School held its 3rd "I Signed the Constitution Day" on September 17, 2001. This celebration of our Constitution, with its added significance in the week following 9/11, was participated in by 750 students, with fifth and sixth graders from across Blair County attending the program that was organized and run by the senior class of the Hollidaysburg Area High School. Teacher and new PCSS member Don Imler’s students take part in the program as part of their Hollidaysburg Area Civic Participation course. Students coordinate, plan, and implement the program while Imler oversees their efforts and the program’s contents. Another teacher and new PCSS member, Mr. Mike Rawlins, supports the students with the computer and technical aspects of the program.

Two students, Meghan Johnson and Ben Vernarsky, emceed the student-organized program. Several speakers were invited and spoke on topics that the students designated for them, the speakers included PBA President H. Reginald Belden Jr., State Representative Jerry Stern, then only State Senate President Pro Tempore Robert Jubelirer (Senator Jubelirer is still President Pro Temp, but he is also now Lt. Governor), U. S. Representative Bill Shuster, local WJAC sportscaster Kellie Goodman, David Trevaskis of LEAP-Kids and the PBA, then Blair County Common Pleas Judge Norman D. Callan and then Pennsylvania First Lady Michele Ridge. Each speaker spoke to the PBA civics theme for 2001-02 of Symbols of Liberty. Among the title topics were "The Pledge and the Flag," "The Pennsylvania Keystone," and "The Constitution as a Symbol of Freedom." Mrs. Ridge movingly reminded the audience of the 9/11 loss; indeed, she and numerous guests of the Hollidaysburg program followed this uplifting event by attending a memorial in Somerset that afternoon.

The program began with the local Armed Forces representatives from all four branches posting colors. The flag services were provided through the efforts of each branch’s local recruiting departments and this innovation to the program came as a result of student interest. Several students witnessed the flag ceremonies at a Veteran’s Day celebration. The students decided that the flag ceremonies were impressive and would make a moving addition to the "I Signed the Constitution" program. The flag presentation had an even greater dramatic effect on the experience of the younger students that attended the program after the events of the previous week. Another program innovation was the inclusion of a chorus and dance troupe to provide entertainment throughout the event. Not only did this include other Hollidaysburg High School students who may not have otherwise become involved in the program and provide entertainment to maintain the interest and excitement of the participants in the activity, but it also gave a tangible demonstration of the effect of the Constitution and our freedoms on our American culture. The students could witness how our freedoms and their legal protections have not just affected courts and government, but even entertainment of the past, present, and future.

As it does every year, the program draws students from several surrounding school districts, including Spring Cove, Claysburg-Kimmel, and also draws from the Hollidaysburg Area elementary schools. The students all hail from the district of State Representative Jerry Stern, who promotes as well as participates in the program.

This program is designed to run for one hour, but the celebration and study of the Constitution around this event lasts for as long as teachers wish. Materials provided by the Pennsylvania Bar Association, LEAP-Kids and the National Constitution Center are distributed to all teachers who will have students attend the program, and these packets are distributed to the students as study material to prepare for the program. Outside of these materials, participating teachers are provided with additional information, including a list of websites that can be used to further enhance the information presented through the provided packets. These sites are intended to be used by the teacher to gather more information to present in the pre- and post-program lessons and to simplify the burden on the younger students of absorbing too much material in so short a time.

The Pennsylvania We, the People Program, a local branch of the national Center for Civic Education, provided classroom sets of grade appropriate books for interested teachers to use with their students. Also provided by State Senator Robert Jubelirer were Constitution coloring books that were handed out to the students. All participating students and invited guests received event t-shirts, too.

A program of this magnitude also carries a high cost, around 3300 dollars this fall. These funds are raised by the students through a campaign of written requests sent in the form of letters to request donations. A majority of the funding stems from donations generously contributed by members of the Pennsylvania Bar, Representative Stern, Senator Jubelirer, and the Sons of the American Legion. Part of the cost of the program arises from an interesting and fun addition to the program-- all participants receive a souvenir of their participation. In the second year, this souvenir became a t-shirt designed after the "Vote It Up!" theme of the 2000 program. In 2001, the t-shirt aspect was continued but it was locally produced and designed by the Hollidaysburg students to represent the "Symbols of Freedom" theme of the program for this year. The souvenir has been a huge hit, and a part of the program that students each year have desired to continue and have felt that contributes to the enjoyment of the program by the younger students and helps to get them excited about the day.

Imler’s senior civics students and other Hollidaysburg seniors participate in this program in a variety of ways. The students participate by carrying out all aspects of the project as part of their Civic Participation Special Projects assignment. These students are involved in designing the program and its contents, creating and gathering materials, planning and implementing their decisions and ideas, and collecting the funding necessary. Seniors invite the speakers and provide them with topics for their presentations, they arrange and distribute the packets for the visiting teachers to provide to their classes, coordinate the busses and the arrival of the students, greet speakers as they arrive, and arrange the luncheon program for the visiting speakers and dignitaries. Students even arrange for media coverage of the program.

The "I Signed the Constitution" program that Hollidaysburg Area High School showcased this fall is the only one in Pennsylvania designed and run by senior high students for the benefit of elementary and middle school students. This innovative model began three years ago at The 1999 Pennsylvania Governor’s Institute for Social Studies Educators when Imler was introduced to the PBA program. Imler was very interested in the program and wanted to adapt it in such a way that he could include his senior high students in the program and allow them the opportunity to develop organization and presentation skills that fit his vision of involved citizenship. After returning from the Governor’s Institute, Imler spoke with State Representative Jerry Stern and presented the idea to him. Stern was interested the idea and agreed to participate in the program. Imler developed the model that eventually became the kick-off for the statewide program.

Those involved with this program all felt very positive about the program and its contributions to the experience of the students involved on every level. Michele Ridge felt that the "program provides an excellent opportunity for students to learn about the Constitution through hands-on experiences" Teacher and co-sponsor Mike Rawlins commented that the program and the Hollidaysburg innovations make the program "effective two-fold", by first providing the younger students with an experience that "enhances by letting them learn about the Constitution not just through a book," while allowing older students to "gain experience about participation in society." Rawlins also noted that the program "demonstrates to older students the respect and understanding of tradition the younger students have and how socialization and programs such as this develop that (respect and understanding)."

When asked how he feels the program aids his students and the younger students, Imler had a lot of enlightening ideas to offer. Imler felt that the "celebratory atmosphere enhanced the kids’ understanding and respect for the traditions of and associated with our Constitution." Furthermore, he stated that the atmosphere not only impressed this respect and understanding on the younger students, but the older ones as well. The program "leaves seniors with an understanding of the importance of tradition and teaching American ideals to younger generations. This program provides senior students with the opportunity to learn a number of skills that are immeasurably valuable in their future, and further more demonstrates to them and the younger students how integral to our way of life the Constitution and the freedoms and government that it guarantees allow us to live our lives as we do, and allow us to live in such a rich, interesting, and evolving culture."