WASHINGTON — Constitution Day is here and many teenagers know little about commemorating the document's signing.
A study being released today by a foundation that focuses on journalism and the First Amendment found that 51% of high school students questioned had not heard of the day when they are required by law to learn about the Constitution.
The occasion is usually observed on or around Sept. 17, the day the document was adopted in 1787.
Just one in 10 students could remember how his high school marked the day last year, according to the study, paid for by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation in Miami.
Eric Newton, vice president of the foundation's journalism program, says he worries that an entire generation may lack a solid understanding of the document that governs America's democracy.
"We're concerned that teaching to the test and the emphasis on math and science is hurting the American civics education," Newton said.
Recent national tests show that more students are learning the basics when it comes to history and civics, but are not rising beyond a modest competency in either subject.
The report did find some encouraging news. For example, 68% of students said they had taken a class that dealt with the First Amendment, compared with 58% in 2004.
Constitution Day was created by Congress in 2004. It was the brainchild of Sen. Robert Byrd, D-W.Va., who carries a copy of the Constitution in his pocket. The law requires any school or college receiving federal money to teach about the Constitution on or about Sept. 17.
Schools can determine the kind of educational program, but they must hold one each year.
Boston University this year will distribute Constitution Day bookmarks and host Anthony Romero, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union, for a lecture. Wittenberg University in Springfield, Ohio, will hand out pocket copies of the Constitution and serve patriotic meals colored in red, white and blue in the school cafeteria.
The study involved 5,484 students and was conducted by questionnaire from April through June. It has a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 1.5 percentage points.