Duval teacher tells 4th graders to give up constitutional rights

By Stephanie Brown Updated: 6:30 p.m. Friday, April 12, 2013 | Posted: 1:36 p.m. Friday, April 12, 2013

One Duval County parent tells WOKV his son doesn’t even know what his constitutional rights are, so he’s shocked a teacher told the ten-year-old to write a letter on his willingness to give them up.  “That sentence talking about giving away freedoms for safety and security- that bothers me,” says Aaron Harvey.

He tells me his 4th grade son was told to write a note reading "I am willing to give up some of my constitutional rights in order to be safer or more secure"  following a lesson led by a guest speaker at Cedar Hills Elementary School.  The lesson itself was taught at the end of last year, but Harvey didn't find the note until about 1 1/2 weeks ago. I obtained the guide for that lesson, which was apparently aimed to “create an awareness of the five rights contained in the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution” and help students “determine their opinions on which rights they value most and least.”  The lesson included a visiting constitutional lawyer, which the district tells me is a partnership used specifically for these civics-based lessons.

The lesson itself isn’t in question, but rather what Harvey says the teacher did after.  He says the teacher selected several students out of the class to write that statement and sign it.  It’s the same story he’s hearing from other parents with children in the class.  “I served in the military. I served to protect my family, my country, and that Constitution and everyone’s freedom,” he says……..He says it better reflects the teacher’s opinion than a factual lesson, and that’s not what school is about.  “Being able to understand so they can form their own thoughts and have their own opinions when they get older,” he says……..  I reached out to the Duval County School District, which tells me the lesson specifically is designed to develop critical thinking skills. ...To Read More....