Revitalizing Civics-Making it REAL!! in Rhode Island

Article XII of the Rhode Island Constitution makes it clear that at the time Rhode Islanders were developing the Constitution over the yeas, they recognized that "The diffusion of knowledge" is "essential to the preservation of their rights and liberties" and obligated the General Assembly to support public schools and libraries.  As we've previously discussed, we completed a survey of the general population, including those who are governmental officials.  We found that when asked when the first and last time they read the Constitution, 98% of the populations answered "high school" and, further, when asked if they were familiar with the United States Constitution, the statistics were closely aligned.
Recently, Retired U.S. Supreme Court Justice was interviewed https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=QoqhouCIk98 and shred some of her views on civics education and ideas on how to make a difference.  Her findings regarding the state of civics education in the United States were stunning and support the findings of our project.   At one point, she used the term "pathetic" when describing the lack of knowledge of our citizens regarding civics.  The great thing, though, is that while she sees the problem, she has picked up a shovel and taken an initiative to reach out to children on their terms, rather than her own.  She is hopeful and inspires us to move forward and share our civics journey, making it real here in Rhode Island where our motto is "HOPE" and charity begins at home.  We hope you'll join us on our journey.  HOPE springs eternal!

By Mary Ryan

ARTICLE XII OF THE RHODE ISLAND CONSTITUTION - FORGOTTEN OR IGNORED?

If the reader were asked when the first time or the last time he/she had read the United States Constitution, the answer would likely be "high school."   No need to be embarrassed.  You're not alone.  After all, a research project completed in 2009 revealed that 98% of Rhode Islanders (approximately 500 Rhode Islanders) who were asked those questions answered the same.  In addition, when asked if they were familiar with the Constitution, the same percentage answered with a resounding  "no"  (though very uncomfortable when doing so).  The initial response for some was, "I keep one in my pocket" or "I have one at home."  Many who were/are part of the legislative, judicial or executive branches of either the U.S.Government or the Rhode Island State Government (also a bit embarrassed )added that they refer to it when necessary to perform their job.   More chilling was the response when asked about the Rhode Island Constitution.  The majority said that they had "never" read the Rhode Island Constitution.  This research study is consistent with what Retired United States Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor has found.  She has used her position to bring awareness to the subject and has since created "icivics" http://www.icivics.org in an effort to reach out to middle school in an effort to reach young people.

Over the last few years, some attention regarding this issue has grown. Congress, in a "historic" moment, chose to read the Constitution together out loud.  However, during the course of doing so, they skipped over a page or so. Read more: http://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/house/136475-entire-section-of-the-constitution-inadvertently-skipped-in-this-mornings-historic-reading#ixzz2fIcs0biK  Interestingly, a portion of the skipped page states:

Article 4 Section 4: The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican Form of Government, and shall protect each of them against Invasion; and on Application of the Legislature, or of the Executive (when the Legislature cannot be convened) against domestic Violence.
Article 5: The Congress, whenever two thirds of both Houses shall deem it necessary, shall propose Amendments to this Constitution.

Four months later, the New York Times wrote an article consistent with our finding.  In 2011, the New York Times wrote: "Fewer than half of American eighth graders knew the purpose of the Bill of Rights on the most recent national civics examination, and only one in 10 demonstrated acceptable knowledge of the checks and balances among the legislative, executive and judicial branches" according to NEAP test result.http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/05/education/05civics.html?_r=0 

Do we have a crisis?  I think so.

Article XII of the Rhode Island Constitution states:

Section 1. Duty of general assembly to promote schools and libraries. -- The diffusion of knowledge, as well as of virtue among the people, being essential to the preservation of their rights and liberties, it shall be the duty of the general assembly to promote public schools and public libraries, and to adopt all means which it may deem necessary and proper to secure to the people the advantages and opportunities of education and public library services.

Section 2. Perpetual school fund. -- The money which now is or which may hereafter be appropriated by law for the establishment of a permanent fund for the support of public schools, shall be securely invested and remain a perpetual fund for that purpose.

So, then, the question must be asked: If the purpose of Article XII is to support knowledge which the writers understood to be essential to the preservation of our (we citizens) rights and liberties, then why is it that 98% of the population is unfamiliar with the Constitution of the United States, and further, the majority have no recollection of ever reading the Rhode Island Constitution?  We know as parents, citizens/taxpayers, we have certainly provided a more than adequate perpetual fund.  If one disbelieves that we have given plenty of money to the R.I.D.E. and municipalities, then wait until your eyes see it on paper.  Here it is! 

http://www.budget.ri.gov/Documents/CurrentFY/BudgetVolumeIII/1_Elementary%20And%20Secondary%20Education.pdf    Anyone else see this number?????   $357.4 ???  How's that for disbelief?  May I just add, this number is not reflective of the entire Education Budget.  See here. http://www.budget.ri.gov/CurrentYear/BudgetVolumeIII.php

I know that I'm tired as a Rhode Islander of hearing others constantly criticizing Rhode Islanders.  I'm tired of hearing a commissioner of education who has but a few years of teaching experience, has little investment in Rhode Island as her primary home - that "Educators" can no longer wait for "better parents" while collecting a paycheck that is 10 (yes 10) times the median income of the parents and nearly four times that of a Rhode Island family (2.7 per household). 

We are better than that.  No more rolling out the carpet (as my friend El says) to someone with $50 and a briefcase.  El also reminds me that "We" are our own worst enemy.   So no more paying tons of money for individuals to treat Rhode Islanders as ignorant and complacent while reaping the benefits of our generosity.  No more giving certain radio talk hosts the time and material to slander Rhode Islanders calling us"stupid" or "morons"and other disrespectful adjectives. 

We have to take an honest look the issue. Now that there's a problem with civics education in elementary and secondary schools in addition to the adult population, what are we going to do about it?  Rather than continuing to be part of the problem, let's be hopeful and become part of the solution.  How can we bring Accountability to those who have been benefiting from the perpetual fund which is we Citizens are Constitutionally bound to provide? We can do it. A humble start - we  adults can work on obtaining a hard copy of the United States Constitution and the Rhode Island Constitution.  Here are the links.

Rhode Island Constitution http://webserver.rilin.state.ri.us/RiConstitution/ConstFull.html

United States Constitution http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/constitution.html
These are not pretty documents to be hung on the wall.  Let's make Article XII EFFECTIVE and REAL.    We have a Bill of Rights which explicitly tells us what it is we have a right to do and what the government does not have a right to do.    My guess is that the more we all read, the more alive our Constitutions will become.  We'll have so many questions, we'll be curious and become more knowledgeable.  We'll develop our knowledge so well that  those who refer to themselves as "leaders"" will discover that they actually are public servants who are financially accountable to the taxpayers who are footing the bill - not the other way around.  We can look at those who are collecting millions and ask:  Why, if we have been providing a perpetual fund to the government for the purpose of supporting public education and libraries to foster our knowledge of our rights and liberties, do 98% of Rhode Island have little to know knowledge of either their rights or liberties?

Its been a while since we've posted here.  Summer activity is winding down.  We're ready to launch our new episode about local food here in Rhode Island. THERE'S JUST SO MUCH TO TALK ABOUT IN THAT DEPARTMENT!  Speaking of the First Amendment...we've all got to be diligent in its preservation.  The episode following local food will be just about that.  I hope that you are all looking forward to it.  The television show has been going and growing well.  We're just a busy bunch.  As those of you who have seen, we've been running around every bit of the State to share the good news of Rhode Island.  YES, there are some very rough days indeed, but overall, Rhode Island is a charm. We have SOOO MUCH!!  Who else has the beautiful blue ocean, maple leaf colors in the fall, green summery veggies, crisp apples, orange pumpkins, delicious red tomatoes, hot chili peppers, watermelons, fuzzy skinned peaches, sea salt in the air, snowflakes on your nose, ocean waves gently flowing on the warm sandy beach between your toes, hilly cold snowy ski slopes (okay, they're not New Hampshire), hot chocolate, fresh milk from the dairy cows, fresh chicken, lobster, crabs, steak, garlic, onions, plums, green green grass, let's not forget the dew from the air, 20 feet of snow in Foster Glocester and Burrillville, and raindrops and downpours on the ocean while the wind whistles and the cold bites your lips while your teeth chatter, arugula, basil (can you smell it?) grape leaves, grapes, peach jam, pizza, pasta, rice, apple bread, cranberry bogs, wheat, rye grass, oak trees, weeping willows, fresh water lakes, ponds, babbling brooks, cod fish, fish and chips, fresh lettuce, pumpking pie, sweet potato fries, onion flowers, moo goo gai pan, mansions, shacks, daffodils, lilacs, roses, fresh squid (a.k.a. calamari or fish bait depending on whether you're enjoying your appetizer with hot pepper rings and fresh lemon or handing off the dock with a delicious cranberry walnut scone with a fishing pole)  city life, country life, farming, cement, street lights, marble pillars, grandmother elms, poor, rich, and even sometimes some in between, ocean breachway, native american history and culture like Wampanoag, Canonicut, Usquepaug, Usquebaug, Pascoag, Aquidneck, Mohegan, Chepachet, Meshanticut, Absalona, Neutaconkanut, Ponagansett, Misquamicut, Scituate, Agawam, Narragansett, Apponaug, Wanskuck, Canonchet, for a few,  Other cultural history like the "hill."  Of course, it depends on which "hill" you're thinking about since the "hill" could be any one of several "hills"   I'll let you all guess which "hills" are the seven "hills" of Providence.  Good luck with that.  Then the Greeks will be asking..what about us?  We have villages.  When I was little - I lived in the "village" in Cranston.  Somehow, if you're from Rhode Island, you know exactly what I mean.  Now, I live in a "lower" village in the northern corner of the State, because the upper villages are either because the people in the upper villages are more uppity or...they are on the upper side of the valley which might not be that great for us.  Now if we move a little east, we can find the yummiest linguisa, or is that shidish, ciarice, or kielbasa.... oh NO, i think I might have mixed that up.  There's hallah bread, bobka, baklava, spaghetti, irish soda bread, Golabki I can never keep it straight.  I eat them all though since I'm an American and Rhode Island has the best of the best in the food world while blending in all of its rich culture.  ....  And then there is Providence which says it all - Roger Williams - soul libertierian...yes, that's right.  SOUL LIBERTIERIAN!  No mistake in the cool spelling either with my twist on it.

TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION - the Linc

All should be very concerned about the new tax proposals set forth by our new Governor, Lincoln Chafee. However, the burden alone should not be his. The general population for far too long has been complacent and there has been no accountability of the our government officials. Rather than behave like public servants, many have behaved as if they entitled and show little respect for the honor of being elected to public service. Fingers are pointing in various directions, mostly at one another, and have successfully pitted citizens against citizens. Wall St. vs. public unions, public unions vs. private unions, taxpayers vs. public unions, non-Wall St. taxpayers vs. Wall St. taxpayers vs. public unions vs. private unions, non-profit profiteers vs. public unions and taxpayers, corporate america vs. corporate government, and the list goes on and on. Who are the losers? I would venture to say without any hesitation, all of us. However, the biggest losers will be the kids who will be greeted with the heavy burdens of our irresponsibility and the leftover devastation from our "civil" war. So, when we are all ready to berate Mr. Chafee for at least making an effort to do what it is he is Constitutionally bound to do - balance the budget. What he has thus far been greeted with is the continued lack of necessary sacrifice on the part of everyone. It is legitimate for citizens to be angry of having to carry the load of the long spent abuses which appears to follow human nature. Recently, the Providence Journal reported that there were seventy-five individuals who are collecting more than $100,000.00 annually as a pension, nearly five times the amount of the median income of $22,000.00 of R.I.. Many, not all of those individuals, appear to believe that they are entitled to collect such pensions. The question must be asked, why? Some of them have continued in public service with minimal to no pay, but that is not the majority. With our cost of living here in Rhode Island, $100,000.00 is not a ton of money. One must pause however, when, the majority of the population must work four to five jobs to make as much. There are so many questions so many of us - not should - but must ask: Why, if the City of Providence is broke, are the Providence taxpayers paying a former State employee $150,000.00 while collecting more than $100,000.00 as an annual pension?

There is HOPE

Our mission is to bring hope to Rhode Islanders. Our motto is "makin' it real!" Despite Rhode Island's devastated economy, corruption in everly branch of government, high unemployment rate and so many other things that can bring one down in this tiny State, hope still springs eternal.