MARION - Form a more perfect union. Establish justice. Insure domestic tranquility.

The preamble to the U.S. Constitution reads like the world's loftiest "To Do" list, and area schools are coming together to recognize the foresight and wisdom of our founding fathers. Constitution Day, which is Saturday, will kick off a day early, with the simultaneous recitation of the Preamble to the U.S. Constitution today in schools across the United States.

Marion schools took advantage of this week's

unique placement among past - and future - significant historical events.

Jefferson Elementary School celebrated this the week's patriotic activities with an assembly Wednesday morning. Important Southern Illinois figures were invited to come participate in Jefferson's activities, said Jefferson Principal John Fletcher. Included among these figures was former U.S. Rep. David Phelps, who played an integral role in the school's Constitution Day celebration by reading the Preamble to children.

"He read it from our fifth-grade textbooks, just to show them that this very important document that guided the decisions he had to make as a congressman was right there in their textbooks," Fletcher said.

Other guests included Rep. John Bradley, Williamson County Treasurer Bruce Troutman, Williamson County Clerk Saundra Jent, several Marion firemen and Williamson County Republican Party Chairman Robert "Dog" Connell. After assembly, which lasted about 30 minutes, children swarmed their local officials with an unusual request, Fletcher said.

"After the program, guests went out to the students and shook hands," Fletcher said. "Our kids, totally impromptu, started asking them for autographs. The guests were very flattered and surprised."

Constitution Day is a great way to bring civics and government to life for children, said Phelps, who currently serves as assistant secretary for the Illinois Department of Transportation. Early in his career, Phelps worked as a sixth-grade teacher and assistant principal and welcomed the return to education - however brief.

"As a teacher, I can tell you that nothing is less interesting than a lecture," Phelps said. "That's what turns people off to civics and government - just memorization of dates. ¦ It's a way to make a lesson come alive - like 'Where were you when 9/11 happened?' To some of them, it's just a picture in a book."

Marion High School government and history teacher Gale Jeter said he believes a designated day to acknowledge the power of the Constitution is necessary. After 38 years of teaching the Constitution, Jeter said he still learns something new about U.S. government each day and each class. What other documents have this much significance?

"When you think about it," Jeter said," those 55 men in that room - what they did was for a country of 4 million people, and that same little document is still running a country with 300 people in it. That's pretty amazing. I can't think of any other document that has had that much impact."

Constitution Day, founded by Louise Leigh, has been celebrated for the past eight years. On Dec. 8, 2004, President George W. Bush signed a bill which officially designated Sept. 17 as Constitution Day, and schools nationwide are required to acknowledge the day and the importance of its 218-year-old inspiration.

This has been a significant week for student knowledge of relevant U.S. history. This week marked not only the 191st birthday of the National Anthem, but also the four-year anniversary of the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. Students throughout the region have also been acknowledging victims of Hurricane Katrina, with fundraisers being held at the majority of schools in Southern Illinois.

ashley.wiehle@thesouthern.com

618-529-5454 x 5807