On Friday, Sept. 15, Columbia County District Attorney Bobby Christine dedicated a day to Lakeside high and middle school students to remind them of the importance of the U.S. Constitution, and how it forever shaped the future of the nation.
As students took turns throughout the day filling the seats of Lakeside High’s auditorium, Christine captured their attention by relaying the history that shaped the Constitution’s existence.
With discussion of important influences, such as Montesquieu, Voltaire, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Thomas Hobbes and John Locke, Christine shared how forward thinkers of the past collectively inspired U.S. forefathers to take a stand against tyranny and fight for everlasting freedom, which resulted later in the Constitution.
“The prosperity of this country isn’t by accident or happenstance, I’d submit that it’s a combination of a God smiling on this nation that allowed those framers to create this document,” he said.
Comparing the cycle to a merry-go-round, Christine said learning about the history of the Constitution and interpreting it later in life go hand-in-hand.
“I think learning the context which [the Constitution] was adopted in and the educational backgrounds of the folks who wrote it enable people to apply it to real life today,” he said. “I don’t think you can just jump in at any point, I think you have to kind of unwind that history. In order to understand how it’s applicable, I think you have to understand how and why it was written.”
Viewing education as the most valuable asset in the county, because of its influence in the future of the community, Christine said he was honored to be approached by the Board of Education to speak with students.
“[The Board of Education] does more to drive this community than anybody; they are what makes this community all that is,” he said.
Explaining history from the eyes of a lawyer, Christine also emphasized how the prestigious document, in partnership with the Bill of Rights, protected important rights and liberties, which some might take for granted after growing up in the U.S.
“I hope students takeaway how unique and special it is to world history,” he said. “The document is what enables our economy to roll along the way it is – the reason we’re able to stay free and win things like the second World War, because our economy is so robust.”
Wanting to inspire adolescents by showing them local government “in action,” Christine also said he hopes students also walk away understanding that government is not a “faceless” occupation and abstract notion.
“We’re right here. We’re real people, and I am certainly a part of this community,” he said.
To David Wood, a social studies teacher at Lakeside and retired army officer, Constitution Day is severely underrated and should earn more attention from citizens.
“I think it is a day that we don’t do enough for, so these kinds of activities I think are great,” he said. “We talk about civic duty and citizenship, but today is a good day to reinforce it and go look at what’s actually in the words of the Constitution.”
In a time where many citizens are fractionated and divided over many different issues and politics, Wood said he believes the Constitution unites Americans in an encouraging manner where all can “grow together.”
“It’s not a perfect document, but there’s room to grow and try to aspire to the beliefs that are written in there,” he said.
Wanting a more connected community between locals and politicians, Wood said having Christine visit the students allows them the opportunity to converse with an elected official, which teaches students how to interact with higher authorities in order to achieve significant county changes.
“There’s not enough interactions with students and community figures, and that disconnect is probably one of the reasons why people grow up not interested in [government],” he said. “Usually, if you’ve got state or federal governments that aren’t in tune with what’s going on in local politics, there’s a divide that happens.”
For Lakeside High Principal Juliet King, she believes exposing students to a “respected and known figure,” such as Christine, can expand possible future goals while developing their knowledge of history and teaching how it still affects the world today.
“As a leader of a high school, we are one of the last stops for students before they go into the world,” she said. “We’re preparing students to be good citizens, and that should be foundational in their journey to grow.”
Most of all, King said she hopes the experience with Christine’s speech deepend students’ sense of gratefulness towards all the opportunities and protections Americans are afforded.
This year’s National Constitution Day will be celebrated across the country on Sunday, Sept. 17.
