Ever since a scholarship enabled me to immigrate to the U.S., I have watched every president (since President Richard Nixon’s second inaugural) solemnly take the oath of office and heard their addresses to the nation. This quadrennial ceremony is a celebration of democracy, of the seamless transfer of power, and of course, of the Constitution, which confers unity and freedom. This inauguration had two additional extraordinary features — mass participation and overflowing enthusiasm. Avoiding soaring rhetoric, President Barack Obama’s speech was a sober assessment of the nation’s formidable troubles along with a fierce determination to confront them head-on. It was also an address of assurance that an Obama administration would live up to the ideals of the Constitution, without compromising safety.
As an educator, I have witnessed President Obama’s impact on students. Throughout his campaign, his inspiring and eloquent can-do, can-change, unifying messages have advanced the political involvement of students, and this has resulted, as never before, in a profound interest in the workings of democracy and our Constitution in hundreds of schools across our land, including my own school. Mr. Arne Duncan, Chicago schools chief and the president’s nominee for secretary of education, is one of those who took the lead in making this inauguration a celebration as well as a learning experience.
And this leads me to offer two concrete suggestions. This could be the time and season to begin translating this renewed student interest in the workings of our democracy and our Constitution into a movement, and the beginnings of a tradition, wherein we set aside a working day every year during the inauguration week as Constitution and Democracy Day in our schools nationwide to celebrate and enhance our knowledge of our Constitution (our civil covenant) as well as to recognize students who have translated the ideals of our Constitution into reality — enlarged ourselves by uplifting other selves and thus creating a better union.
Since our forebears considered the education of our youth to be of paramount importance, they kept it close to home under the watchful eye of the community. I hope we as a community can harness this student interest in our Constitution (one of the most influential political documents) for study, celebration and recognition.
Mervyn D’Souza
Edison