Issue link: http://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/99748
Director of Education Felicia Bell (at far left) stands next to teacher Amy Trenkle and her students at a showing of the "Where Freedom Speaks" traveling exhibition at Stuart Hobson Middle School in Washington, D.C. premiered in the rotunda of the Cannon House Office Building before being installed in the rotunda of the Russell Senate Office Building and the German American Heritage Museum. SCHOOL PROGRAMS IN 1993 THE SOCIETY created Where Freedom Speaks, a pageant in which schoolchildren re-enact the laying of the first Capitol cornerstone in 1793. Working with board member Carmella LaSpada, the Society produced a videotape and lesson plans for distribution in classrooms across the country to help teachers produce the pageant. For high school students, Outstanding Members of Congress, a publication and youth forum series, introduces teenagers (in print and face-to-face) to former and current Members of Congress whose life stories reflect the characteristics of leadership and dedication necessary for public service. Most recently, the Society joined with the National Archives, the White House Historical Association, the Federal Courts, the National Park Service, Children's Concierge, Old Town Trolley Tours, and Sodexo to create the We the People Constitution Program. This day-long tour educates students about the first three 46 THE CAPITOL DOME Guests examine the "From Freedom's Shadow: African Americans and the United States Capitol" exhibit at its February 2006 opening in Baltimore, MD. articles of the Constitution by visiting "monumental" Washington, ending at the National Archives where students view the original documents—the Constitution and Bill of Rights—that they have spent the day discussing. A Teacher Resource Guide, Student Activities Guide, and Constitution Challenge provide curriculum-based classroom materials and opportunities that extend and reinforce students' experiential learning during the tour. Since the 2005–6 school year, more than 10,000 students and teachers from more than 50 different public and public charter schools and educational centers in the District of Columbia have taken the We the People tour. Tours are conducted from November through early March. The tour is free of charge, provides door-to-door transportation, and includes lunch, also free of charge thanks to the generosity of program sponsors. WINTER 2013