9/18/06

Michigan teachers and students observing Constitution Day have a free resource in “Salute to Constitution Day,” a collaboration of the Michigan Supreme Court, State Bar of Michigan, Michigan Government Television (MGTV), and radio station WBFH-FM.

The program features a panel discussion with Chief Justice Clifford W. Taylor of the Michigan Supreme Court and State Bar President Thomas W. Cranmer. With moderator Ron Koehler, Kent Intermediate Schools Assistant Superintendent, Taylor and Cranmer share their observations on the history of the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, the Constitution’s impact on American life, and the role of the judicial branch. The program, which was taped at MGTV studios in Lansing, also includes advice for students considering careers in law.

MGTV will air the interview on Monday, September 18 at 10:01 a.m. The audio portion of the 30-minute program, which includes information about the Michigan Hall of Justice Learning Center, is also available as a podcast on WBFH’s web site at http://www.wbfh.fm/podcast/podcast.html; the program can be downloaded to MP3 players. Instructions for downloading the program are on the WBFH web site.

Federal legislation passed in 2004 requires all federally-funded schools, including colleges and universities, to teach about the Constitution on September 17, the date the document was adopted in 1787. If September 17 – now designated “Constitution and Citizenship Day” – falls on a weekend, schools must teach Constitutional lessons on the preceding Friday or following Monday.

To find local cable channels which air MGTV, visit MGTV’s web site at http://www.mgtv.org. Other Constitution Day resources are available on the Learning Center web site at http://www.courts.michigan.gov/plc/

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