Third Time’s a Charm. School Board Finally Passes Distribution of US Constitutions
After 3 years, donated copies of the US Constitution and Declaration of Independence for 8th graders are accepted by the School District with disclaimer added.
At the August business meeting, the school board voted to approve the distribution of donated copies of the US Constitution and Declaration of Independence to 8th graders. The pocket-sized booklets of the US charter documents are presented by the educational non-profit, 917 Society, to public middle schools across the nation. In Indian River County, the booklets have already been distributed to all 8th grade classrooms. The distribution was in accordance with the board directive to get them out by Patriot Day which is September 11, 2024. September 17th is Constitution Day which celebrates the signing of the Constitution of the United States.
Reached for comment board member, Jackie Rosario who proposed their approval, said, “In the month of September we recognize patriotism by remembering the events of 9-11 and by acknowledging the importance of America’s founding document we call the US Constitution. In fact, Constitution Week 2024 in Florida will be celebrated from September 17–23.”
The US Government formally recognizes those dates as Constitution Week. The FL Department of Education provides directives and information surrounding Constitution Day . Ms. Rosario added, “This week is dedicated to commemorating the adoption of the United States Constitution and all schools are required to prepare and engage students in lessons toward this end.”
Local Moms for Liberty chapters handle all of the distribution throughout the state of Florida except in one district. This year, 33 school districts in Florida will receive them. In Indian River County, chairwoman, Jennifer Pippin said, “After three years, the school district finally accepted the pocket Constitutions. Our job as a chapter is to distribute these locally in service to the students. We delivered to the 1100 public school students for the first time this year. The last two years, all of the charter schools received them, private schools and even homeschool associations. We gave away what was designated to the public schools in 2022 and 2023 to other schools in Fort Pierce, at events and elsewhere.”
Board member, Jackie Rosario added the action item after a Moms for Liberty member brought the matter to the attention of the board through public comment. Afterward, she said, “I have no idea why there has been so much pushback on getting pocket constitution booklets into the hands of 8th graders in our district, but I’m glad we finally made it happen. This is a no brainer.”
Yet, watch the debate over the little blue booklet at Monday’s business meeting and your brain may start to hurt. In 2023, the school district said “no” to the educational donation because of a QR code on the back of the the booklet. Advocates for the material testified last year that the QR code was a link to the digital materials in the book, and at the time, even a Spanish language version.
At the August meeting, according to the school district’s Coordinator of Student Services, Dr. Cristina Jacobs, the QR code directed people to a place on the 917 Society’s website and “to numerous links, some of them which included political material.”
Dr. Jacobs may have been picking up on the argument from 2022 when Brian Barefoot put a stop to the distribution of the Constitution booklets saying they were “political.” The 917 Society is a 501(c)3 non-profit charity and cannot engage in political activity under IRS code. Their website shows consistent adherence to the regulations. The organization has always clearly stated on their website and with information sheets delivered with the booklets, “As a not-for-profit organization with tax-exempt status, we do not align with, endorse, or support any particular political candidate, organization, party, or platform. We support our Constitution and the democratic process and encourage civic engagement. Any accolades made in favor of the 917 Society are not solicited politically.”
Superintendent, Dr. Moore, followed-up Dr. Jacobs comments by stating, “I cannot give the board any assurances that a vote of doing this without properly reviewing the QR code would allow you to violate your own policy.”
Board member, Dr. Posca followed, “I guess I find it interesting that we were the only district that didn’t adopt it. I will say this, There is a simple fix for the problem. Let’s put a sticker over the QR code and let’s handout the books and move on.”
While the discussion was taking place, Ms. Rosario had examined what information was behind the QR code. “I think every board member should take out your phone and go to the QR code,” she said. Beginning to laugh, she added, “What you will see is not controversial.”
She described the links provided which are to the Constitution’s Articles I through VII, The Bill of Rights, Amendments 11-27, an About section for the non-profit, a link to the Declaration of Independence and the Naturalization Oath of Allegiance to the United States of America.
Under Title 36 of the US Federal Code, September 17th is not only designated as Constitution Day, but also, Citizenship Day.
Of course, the debate on the dais did not end there. There was the matter of a disclaimer and who would be responsible for applying the disclaimer to the booklet. Would the disclaimer sticker be the sticker that covered the QR code? Or, would it be a different sticker that could not be removed? There were three separate amending motions over the sticker. In the end, the books were approved with a disclaimer sticker containing approved language by the school district. They were provided and applied to each booklet by the local chapter of Moms for Liberty. Ms. Pippin said, “Indian River is the only district in Florida, and to my knowledge, even in the United States, with a disclaimer attached to the booklet.”
No other approving district in Florida requires covering the QR code.
Wow! "Political"? The United States Constitution and Declaration of Independence is "political". I guess socialists would think that. However, any freedom loving and thinking American sure would NOT. That tells you what (and who) is sitting on the school board, doesn't it?
For the life of me I don’t understand why anyone would be against this idea. How much more appropriate for 8th graders to understand our Constitution can anything be? Not only hand them out, but study the Constitution and The Bill of Rights! These children are our future. The Constitution is our past, present and future.