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The Raves
Entertaining with Democratic Values
reprinted from the Connection Newspaper
St. Clair Shores - Lined up on the table in the Masonic Heights gym were 10 presents. Each held a special gift.
Doug Scheer asked who in the audience of youngsters would like 10 presents each day of their life.
Every hand went up.
The journalism graduate explained how each day United States citizens get those gifts through the Bill of Rights.
Through a fast-paced presentation interspersed with music, audience participation and a colorful backdrop of the bald eagle, the Liberty Bell and the Statue of Liberty, Scheer explained the origin of the fundamental beliefs that unite all Americans.
The 13 colonies joined under the Articles of Confederation. The Constitution was born spelling out the duties of the three branches of government -- executive, legislative and judicial.
He went on to say that after the people read the
Constitution, they felt their needs should be documented and The Bill of Rights was written.
Ten original rights - or 10 gifts - that each citizen has.
To make the lesson stick, he brought up 10 children and each chose a gift as he told, with the use of props, how each of the rights works.
Symbols of the Jewish and Christian faith, chattering teeth and rolled up newspaper represented the freedom of religion, speech and the press.
A rubber arm was held by a boy illustrating the right to keep and bear arms.
G.I. Joe represented the third article of housing a soldier during peace times orwar without the homeowner’s consent.
Children continued to pay attention as he pulled other props out, explaining rights of search and seizure, an explanation of a criminal offense, the right to a speedy and public trial by jury, the right to post bond and right for laws to be passed at both the federal and state levels.
The children did laugh at the props, but Scheer said that is how they learn.
“Laughter is excellent. It can touch the emotion which is the glue to make it stick. It touches the soul,” he said after his second presentation to the Masonic Heights children.
Need more information? Give us a call. There’s a school in your district that’s already seen these programs.
We’ll just let them brag for us.
