Do you know what is turning 225 years old this summer? The
Constitution of the United States!
Hold on... I know what you’re thinking: "The
Constitution? Oh, you mean the old document that was written by those guys who
wore leggings and powdered wigs. Why should I care about its 225
Well, if you, like the rest of our generation, enjoy posting on Twitter,
checking in with your friends on Facebook or watching the latest YouTube Video,
then you should really care about the Constitution.
Many kids take these everyday rights for granted. At least I
did before my mother made me sit down on the hammock during my spring break
three years ago and listen as she read the Constitution aloud. I stopped when
she read the first amendment.
"You mean, this is the only thing that prevents the
government from censoring what kind of church I attend or what newspapers I
read?!" My mother simply nodded her head. The Constitution quickly went up
on my "Most Important List".
When I later reread the Constitution, it all made sense. The seven articles in
the Constitution list what our government can and can’t do. The first ten
amendments, "The Bill Of Rights", then list a certain number of our
However, without the Articles, our government could turn
into a dictatorship, leaving us with no structure of government, and our
amendments would mean nothing.
When I truly realized the importance of our Constitution, I became involved in
my mother Janine Turner's, foundation, "Constituting America." I am
currently the National Youth Director for Constituting America and it is my job
to get my generation excited about the Constitution.
It is also my job to spread the word about the "We The People 9.17
Contest," an annual contest hosted by Constituting America. All you have
to do is create an original work explaining what the Constitution means to you
and why we should all care about it…
Lower School (Kindergarten-5th Grade): You can either draw a picture of what the
Constitution means to you or compose a short poem.
Middle School (6th Grade-8th Grade): You can write an essay or compose an original song
(think: American Idol) about the importance of the Constitution.
High School (9th Grade-12th Grade): You can compose an original song, direct (or act
in) a short film (we all love to use our camera phones), film a Public Service
Announcement or write an essay on what the Constitution means to you.
All works are judged by a panel of celebrity judges!
The best part is there are great prizes for the winner of
each category. Every winner receives a trip to Philadelphia on Constitution Day
and gets to star in a documentary, which is filmed by Constituting America and
is distributed to schools nationwide. Plus, each High School winner receives
So don't hesitate to enter the "We The People 9.17 Contest"! Entries
are due July 4th. Visit www.ConstitutingAmerica.org.
And remember, “We the people” means us kids too!
Juliette Turner, 14
BY JULIETTE TURNER ON 4/18/2012 1:38:00 PM
POSTED IN contests