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<br />The Honorable Mary Capra
<br />1880 Main Street
<br />Centerville, Minnesota 55038
<br />August 16, 2005
<br />
<br />Joan Moses
<br />80 Seventeenth Avenue SW
<br />New Brighton, Minnesota 55112
<br />tj moses(cV,comcast. com
<br />651.631.2182
<br />
<br />Dear Mayor Capra,
<br />
<br />On May 24, 2005, the Department of Education directed all educational institutions that
<br />~eceive federal dollars to offer students in elementary, secondary, and college settings
<br />mstruction on the U. S. Constitution on September 17 of each year.
<br />
<br />On behalf of the Daughters of the American Revolution, Anoka Chapter, I ask you to
<br />please. co?sider proclaiming September seventeen through twenty-three, 2005 as
<br />ConstItutlon Week. DAR, Anoka Chapter, is willing to post Constitution Week
<br />awaren~ss posters in schools, libraries, and other public sites, free of charge, by
<br />contactmg Joan Moses, 651.631.2182, or tjmoses@comcast.net.
<br />
<br />We encourage state and local officials, as well as leaders of civic, social and educational
<br />. . '
<br />organIzatIOns, to conduct ceremonies and programs that celebrate our Constitution and
<br />reaffirm our commitment as citizens. Thank you.
<br />
<br />THE CHRo\:nCLE OF HIGHER EDUCATION . JUNE 3, 2005 A19
<br />
<br />EduCc~tion D~pt. Issues Rule; on 'Co~s~~ution -Day' Requirement
<br />
<br />.1 _ WASHINGTON federal-spending bill for 2005 by woman ior the department. She said
<br />GUlDEUJfES issued last week by Sen. Robert C Byrd, a West V.a it is "too soon to speculate" about
<br />. the Department of Educa- Democrat who is a self-taught histo- what might happen if a college did
<br />tion direct all educational rian and a Constitution buff. The re- not comoly.
<br />institutions tllat receive federal dol- quirement applies to colleges, as . High~r-education leaders said
<br />Ian to offer !lludenls instruction on well as elementary and secondary ,hey were pleased tbat tbe depart-
<br />the u.s. Con~titution each Septem- schools, tbat receive aid from any mcnt had favored an honor-system
<br />ber 17, but stbp short ofrequiring a federal agency. The guidelines note, approach, rather than requiring col-
<br />specific curriculum fonhe annual bowever, tbat tbe Education De- leges to report their compliance.
<br />constitutiO~DaY and Citizensbip partment does not have regulatory Cynthi~ A. Lilllefield, director of
<br />Day. autbority over institutions tbat get federal relations for the Association
<br />Instead, U department's notice, money only from other agencies. of Jesuit Collellcs and Universities,
<br />which was p blisbed in the May 24 If September 17 falls on a Satur- praised tbe rule for giving colleges
<br />hderal Rtg' Itr, points educators to day, Sunday. or boliday, scbools and more flexibility in meeting the re-
<br />Internet resources for information. colleges must scbedule an educ:l- 'luiremcnt.
<br />including Wtb sites run by tbe Li. tional program in the preceding or But many university presidents
<br />brary of Cotigress and the National following week, tbe guidelines say. rcmain concerned that Senator
<br />Archives. I However. the Education. Dcpart- Bvrd's provision could establisb a
<br />. The rule Flu~ into eff~ct a prO\i- m~nt has ~o plans to mentlor com- pre~ed.nt for. Con&ress'~ setting
<br />slon tbat W;j" Inserted In the final pbance, saId Susan Aspey. a spokes- cumcular reqUIrements, said Becky
<br />
<br />
<br />YoursSincerel~~
<br />Joan Moses L-:f11
<br />Encl. Sample proclamation and copy of cited article.
<br />
<br />Timmons, director of government
<br />rclations at the American Council
<br />on Education. Federal law probibits
<br />the Education Department from es-
<br />tablishing a national curriculum.
<br />"Our member.; find it very intru.
<br />sive," Ms. TImmons said. "They arc
<br />concerned about tbe precedent it
<br />balds for Congress telling them
<br />what to teacb,"
<br />In a written statement, Senat<lI
<br />Byrd said last week tbat be w;"
<br />pleased that the guidelines did nul
<br />"impose a particular view or inter.
<br />pretation of tbe Constitution." at"
<br />he hoped "that scbools will deveh 'I
<br />many different,creative WB}" to ell
<br />able students 10 learn about one ..
<br />our country's most important hi.
<br />toricdocuments." -KARIN FlSCIll.
<br />
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