Who Was Our First President?

Did you know George Washington was not our first president?*
Did you know, as a country, we’ve had two Constitutions?**
Do you know what’s important about the Constitution and the Federalist Papers?***
Did you know if you talk to your kids about what’s important about the Constitution, they could win $2,000, an opportunity to be on TV and a free trip to Philadelphia?

In a new contest called We the People 9/17, sponsored by Constituting America (www.constitutingamerica.org) students from kindergarten through high school are encouraged to express themselves about why the Constitution is important to them and they can win these great prizes. But hurry – the deadline is July 4th! (The $2,000 prize, TV appearance and trip are for high school entrants only – see the website for details about other prizes)
Many kids these days may not be familiar enough with the Constitution and the United States’ other founding documents to be able to express why it’s important to them, which is exactly why actress and author Janine Turner founded Constituting America and now serves as co-Chair with political activist and strategist Cathy Gillespie. Turner is best known for her roles on Northern Exposure, Strong Medicine and Friday Night Lights, among many others. Gillespie has worked on numerous charitable and political causes, including serving as Chief of Staff for Congressman Joe Barton.
What a great opportunity, as a family, for you to read the Constitution with your kids and talk, in broad terms, about what is important about the concepts in there. Gillespie suggested to Family First that you listen to your kids as you read it (a link is available through the Constituting America website ) and see which parts they’re most interested in. For example, they may key on Freedom of Speech. If so, talk with your child about what is important about that element personally for him or her – then they can enter the contest!
For the contest, elementary students can write a poem or draw a holiday card about “Why the Constitution is Important to Me.” Middle school students can write an essay or song. High school students are eligible to write an essay, song, public service announcement or shoot a short film. Gillespie says the film does not need to be big-budget – just a few minutes from an iPhone will work just fine. Winners will be announced on Constitution Day, September 17 at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
“It gives kids the opportunity to express themselves in mediums they want to express themselves in today” says Gillespie, such as writing, drawing and singing. She says Constituting America will be putting together an electronic file of the winning entries with the winners’ commentary so kids can download it and see other kids talking about why the Constitution is so important. Also, teachers will be able to use the presentation in their classrooms on Constitution Day, part of a mandate of a 2004 law that says any educational entity receiving federal funding must teach the importance of the Constitution.
Gillespie told Family First that Turner took an afternoon over spring break, sat in a hammock and read the Constitution with her 14-year-old daughter Juliette. Together they discussed why this document is so important not just to our country but to each of her citizens. Juliette was so passionate about learning more about our country and its founding, she now serves as the National Youth Director for Constituting America. Watch one of her videos here.
http://www.youtube.com/user/ConstitutingAmerica#p/u/5/sgIE1ACrJ18

Gillespie’s children are also involved in Constituting America. Her junior in high school recently became an intern for the organization.
The dinner table is a great place to talk about our founding concepts, says Gillespie. She told Family First that Turner and her daughter keep a copy of Bill Bennett’s American Patriot’s Almanac nearby and talk about it each night. Of course, Gillespie’s dinner table includes her husband Ed Gillespie, who served as the Chairman of the Republican National Committee, so between these two career political strategists, their conversations may be a little more intense about our government than most American’s.
Beyond the We the People 9/17 Contest, Constituting America is also sponsoring 90 in 90 = 180, a discussion of the Federalist Papers, which Thomas Jefferson called “the best commentary on the principles of government which was ever written.” (Thank you to Gillespie for that quote.)
Turner, Gillespie and numerous Constitutional scholars, including Brion McClanahan, author of The Politically Incorrect Guide to the Founding Fathers, write every day about each of the Federalist papers. “(The Papers) are so relevant to what the Founding Father said and still make so much sense,” Gillespie explains. A link to the papers is also available on the Constituting America website.
The Federalist Papers detail the debate our founders had about each of the principles in our Constitution. The fascinating part is that so much of what they wrote about is still so spot-on to what has occurred over our 223-year history since the Constitution was ratified.
Gillespie points out, “The Federalist Papers just are not studied in schools anymore but they really are the defense and explanation of the Constitution and explain why certain things are in the Constitution.”
Another fun thing Gillespie suggests to check out is @SecretDelegate on Twitter. Every day, a secret delegate to the Constitutional Convention tweets about what’s supposedly going on during the debate, which happened in secrecy from May 25, 1787 until September 17, when the Constitution was signed by representatives from nine of the 13 states. Reading the Twitter feed is fascinating in and of itself – just try to guess who the secret delegate could be!
“America cannot survive unless her citizens, her children and her students are educated about the validity, necessity and Providential Divinity of the Constitution.” – from the Constituting America website. Constituting America is pending 501(c)(3) status as a non-profit organization. Check out their educational links too for tons more fascinating information.
*John Hansen was our first president under the Articles of Confederation.
**The Articles of Confederation served as our Constitution from 1776 until the Constitution was ratified on September 17, 1787.
***The Constitution is the backbone of our government’s agreement with her people – the “operating instructions” – and the Federalist Papers help us understand the incredible debate and thought process that our Founding Fathers went through to create this providential document.

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