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?