The Dawn of Understanding: Constitutionality in 7-1 Social Studies Students

Progress Reports went out Thursday. I witnessed a variety of expressions at the receipt of progress reports. I believe that there was a contingent of students who awoke to the fact that first trimester is in fact over. This would mean that whatever success experienced before remains in that portal of the past and is not entirely reflective of future success. These students faced the dawn of a new mode of reality: Second trimester is here and is a force who is demanding the reality of reckoning. Another group of students saw their progress reports took a deep breath upon looking at their progress report. They smiled and marveled at how well they did. Yet, there was something in their sensibilities that indicated to them that there was much more to come. This progress report being held in their grasp was only a snapshot at a particular moment in time. They looked around the room, my room, and collected that what lie in store will be far more arduous than what was expected. Another group looked at their progress report and seemed to hope beyond a calculation that things “will get better.” Their hope resided in the ever present that there will be some awakening, some angel that will rescue them. It seemed that the students I witnessed on progress report day would fall into one or a hybrid of the above classifications.

I think a common thread in all of these test cases of student response to student achievement is the notion of an awakening. There seemed to be a maturation element which was present, one that might not have reared its head earlier on in the year. I believe this idea of awakening and dawning is critical in understanding where our unit in the Constitution has progressed. In the last week, I believe that there has been a level of dawning that has emerged in many of our students. Lining up outside of class to give an amendment, memorizing the Preamble, learning about sections of the Constitution, and wrestling with the demons that seem to be present in both the Citizenship Handbook as well as outcome sentences have all seemed to be create a new morn in the minds of our emerging students; “morning, excellent and fair.”

This metaphor of the dawn or awakening seems to not only be reflected in our students, but is a critical component within the Constitution. The framers conceived of a document that was living and breathing, a set of ordinances on first glance, but revealing so much more. Their creation can only function if there is a new horizon within which freedom can be exercised, a road that will continue, and an eternal sense of dawn and morning. This dynamic of allowing for opportunities to display the sense of excellence and glory intrinsic to the Constitutional employment of freedom seemed to be of critical importance to the Founders. This might explain why the notion of liberty seems to play such a vital role in the interpretation of the document. At the same time, I can sense that this idea seems to be present in our students. For some, freedom is becoming more definable, as their choices are beginning to form the initial foundations or vestiges of who they will become. Middle school is an excellent domain to experience this aspect of freedom for it makes universal a subjective experience. The notion of individual identity is something that is emotionally and physiologically differentiated for all of our students. To experience the Constitutional dependence on freedom in a pure middle school setting enhances the meaning of the content. Like the framers, our students are beginning to scratch the surface of how immense the natures of freedom and choice are. Within this schema, students are beginning to see how their road, like that of the infant America, stretches for miles. Progress Report day seemed to illuminate to me the many level of dawn that lie inherent in our student.

The framers were wise enough to understand the complex nature of choice. They saw that choices could go in either direction, but there are more gains that result from positive choices, decisions and actions that seek to build a foundation, despite its difficulty, as opposed to seeking sanctuary in a negative one, or what Mill would label as the “lower” pleasure. I believe that our immersion into the Constitution is illuminating more about it. At an awkwardly simultaneously moment, I can sense more coming out about our students, as well. Choices begin to emerge out of cloistered halls of individual fear and into the wide open they present themselves and more about our students become evident. The framers saw this emergence of a nation that I see in 7-1 students.

As morning breaks, excellent and fair, we can hear that song of the nightingale that cannot be recounted or replicated, but only experienced.

The Red Tape Issues also seem to be guiding us at this time. Conference sign up sheets went out with Progress Reports. Please return them as soon as possible. Confirmations will be sent home with students. My conference schedule will be posted under the pdf link “Upcoming Tasks/ Assessments/ Handouts” on the top left hand pane of this blog. At the same time, grades are going to be going online on January 28. Expect to be able to experience both the joy of online grade acquisition combined with progress reports to be sent home with the same regularity that has defined 7-1 Social Studies thus far in the year.

As always, if I can be of any further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me at school or at home.

Mr. Kannan