Heightened airport security must be balanced with Americans' individual rights, Jalen Randolph argued Friday.
Political pundits, legal experts and presidential candidates have weighed in on the constitutionality of post-Sept. 11 laws and security measures and the intentions of the nation's Founding Fathers. Eleven-year-old Jalen and his classmates took on the issue Friday.
"They never took action about the dangers that might lie ahead," he said of the writers of the Constitution.
Lake Forest Hills Elementary School fifth-graders held mock congressional hearings to debate constitutional issues, the culmination of their studying of the U.S. Constitution through "We the People," a federally funded civics education program.
Jalen and his teammates, Edward Rice and Brandon Brooks, argued that the Founding Fathers were equally passionate about protecting the nation as a whole and the rights of individuals, yet they couldn't foresee an event the magnitude of the Sept. 11 attacks.
Paul Harris, an Augusta State University associate professor of political science who judged the competition, said afterward that the issues the fifth-graders took on are discussed in his college classes. Yet, these pupils were discussing the topics with ease.
"As a professor, it is extremely gratifying seeing students learn so much," Dr. Harris said.
The history of the Constitution, what went into writing it and what it means isn't usually part of an elementary school curriculum, Principal Pearl Bailie said.
"This is just something they will carry through with them," Ms. Bailie said. "They love it, and they learn it."
Friday's program, meant to encourage civic involvement among the pupils, included words of encouragement by State Sen. Ed Tarver and U.S. Rep. John Barrow.
"It says here that I'm supposed to give you words of encouragement. I came here to get encouraged by you," Mr. Barrow said. "I never had an experience like this when I was your age. That's why I'm jealous of you."
When he was their age, schools were racially segregated, women had fewer rights than men and forced confessions were admissible in court, he told them.
"The law and politics changed all of that," Mr. Barrow said.
Reach Greg Gelpi at (706) 828-3851 or greg.gelpi@augustachronicle.com.
WINNING TEAM
Edythe Thompkins, who teaches the "We the People" curriculum at Lake Forest Hills Elementary, said all of her pupils performed well. The highest scoring team was Team Hamilton, made up of Victoria Boyd, Todd Gaines, Shauntrice McCloud and Anna Plunkett.
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