Fifth-graders grill college students on Constitution

The Gazette ^ | Carol McGraw

[Up Yours Marxists]

Stephen Schaetzle, college student and Navy reservist didn’t know what was in store early Wednesdaywhen the little kid in a red Liberty Day t-shirt with Betsy Ross flag on the back, asked for a minute of his time.

A good sport, he submitted to being politely grilled on the Constitution by Claire Byrnes, fifth grader.

It didn’t go so well.

“I haven’t a clue,” Schaetzle replied when she asked what the requirements are to be a U.S. Congressman.

Sympathetically, she handed him a mini-version of the Constitution and asked him to read the answer: be at least 25 years of age, a citizen seven years prior to election, and resident of the state

After his recital, Schaetzle joked: “It’s a long day already.”

[DustyMoment]

I studied the Constitution as a kid and went back and re-read it as an adult in preparation for teaching it to an ESL class. I still couldn’t accurately quote salient passages of the Constitution today because I don’t use that information on a regular basis so it isn’t fresh.

Let me give you an example - Can you diagram a sentence? Surely you learned how to do that by the 5th grade, but I would bet that anyone who doesn’t diagram sentences as an adult (such as a teacher) could do it today. That’s the substance of all these “Are you smarter than a 5th grader?” nonsense. A 5th grader who just finished studying something is more than likely going to understand or know the topic better than an adult who hasn’t just finished studying it and is more concerned with bills, job, kids, etc.

Any number of scientific studies have proven that information we learned at some point in our lives that isn’t used on a regular basis fades away. That’s simply how our brains work. So, yes, this is pointless and meaningles. It is designed to make us think that children who are learning less in school today than I did when I attended school are actually smarter. It’s a red herring!

With respect to asking a Congressman these questions, I agree because the Constitution is what they are practicing and they had BETTER know it!! That’s what their job is based on!!!

[EEGator]

Not to mention the 5th graders may not even truly comprehend the meaning. There’s no point in parroting things you don’t comprehend. I think a High School level History class you return to the subject, and get in depth on the Constitution.

[Impy]

Well I went to Chicago Public Schools.

It was one the best ranked grade schools in the city. The level of education still sucked but you did have to pass that test to graduate, it was state law.