Declaration of Independence Song CD
Fun sing-alongs make learning the words of the Declaration of Independence fun!
Resources
Celebrate Freedom Week Statutes for Texas, Florida, Arkansas, Oklahoma
Video: History of Celebrate Freedom Week In Florida
In the News
Seventy-one Percent of Americans Fail Civic Literacy Exam
College seniors have failed the civil literacy exams over the last few years, according to ISI. Is it any surprise that a survey of Americas report the same failing statistics? According to a study of 2800 respondents, thirty percent of elected officials do not know that “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” are the unalienable rights referred to in the Declaration of Independence.
Celebrate Freedom Week Student Video
This video documentary entitled, ‘Taking A Stand for Freedom: The History of Celebrate Freedom Week in Florida,’ was created by high school students Steffy and Nathan Boyd for a history class project.
The 10-minute video includes an interview with Florida teachers and students during Celebrate Freedom Week in 2005, Bill Dillon, Charlie Clary and Jerry Melvin who sponsored the bill establishing Florida’s Celebrate Freedom Week.
Annotated Bibliography
‘Taking a Stand for Freedom: The History of Celebrate Freedom Week in Florida’ by Nathan and Steffy Boyd
Secondary Resources
“California Campaign to Promote Civic Education: Talking Points and Proposed Requirements.” 2005. Calabasa, CA: The Center for Civic Education. 28 Oct 2005. <http://www.civiced.org/campaign_calif.html>. This information contained information about the problems in today’s civic education and their recommendations for improvement.
“The Declaration of Independence” Video (DVD). Just the Facts Learning Series. Camarillo, CA: Goldhill DVD. 2004. This video helped us understand the history of the Declaration of Independence and the sacrifices made by the signers.
The Declaration of Independence Song. Jack Boyd. 2004. 10 Sept 2005. <www.declarationsong.com>. This website provided links to several primary sources, including a survey describing America’s general lack of knowledge about the Declaration of Independence and the Celebrate Freedom Week bill passed in Florida and Texas.
Declaration of Independence Video. 4 July 2002. Beverly Hills, CA: Declaration of Independence Roadtrip. 3 Sept. 2005. <http://www.independenceroadtrip.org/trailer.html>. This dramatic reading of the Declaration of Independence includes an introductory commentary by actor, Morgan Freeman. This source helped us understand an African America’s appreciation for the Declaration of Independence in spite of the fact that some of the original signers owned slaves. This source was also a secondary source showing how the Declaration of Independence was a model for freedom movements throughout history providing photos for the video of women’s suffrage and Martin Luther King.
Katz, Daniel R, ed. Why Freedom Matters. New York: Workman Publishing, 2003. This book is a compilation of speeches, poetry, and songs about freedom with commentary from the editor. It helped us understand many different views of freedom and the importance of the Declaration of Independence. It included hundreds of primary sources, including Elizabeth Cady Stanton’s Declaration of Sentiments, Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address and Emancipation Proclamation and Martin Luther King Jr’s ‘I Have a Dream’ speech.
James, Dr. Kenneth, “Director’s Communication.” Memo Number: ACC-04-009, August 25, 2003 Little Rock, AR: Department of Education. 15 Mar 2006 <http://arkedu.state.ar.us/commemos/static/fy0304/1825.html> This memo helped us understand the details of Celebrate Freedom Week bill passed in Arkansas.
“NEA Conference Declares Civics Challenge: Apparently the Truths in the Declaration of Independence aren't so Self-evident.” July 3, 2003. New Orleans, LA: Associated Press. April 21, 2006. <http://www.cnn.com/2003/EDUCATION/07/03/students.history.ap/index.html> The story of Representative Roger Wicker and his high school AP History students showed the lack of knowledge of students regarding our rights declared in the Declaration of Independence.
Torch of Freedom Foundation. Torch of Freedom Foundation. 2005. April 11, 2006. <www.torchoffreedom.org>. This website sited a Texas survey that showed a lack of knowledge of our first amendment rights.
Primary Sources
“Bill of Rights.” Photograph. Charters of Freedom. National Archives and Records Administration. 4 Feb 2006 <http://www.archives.gov/national-archives-experience/charters/bill_of_rights_zoom_1.html>. This photograph was used in our video.
Boyd, Stephanie and Jack Boyd, The Declaration of Independence Song. Audio Recording (CD). Alpharetta, GA: Jack Boyd & Associates. 1999. This is the sing-along written by Steffy Boyd and family that has been used in many classrooms in Florida to help students learn the words of the Declaration of Independence. We used the song in our video.
National Treasure. Director Jerry Bruckheimer. DVD. Orlando, FL: Walt Disney Pictures. 2005. We used this feature length movie to study video presentation techniques for the Declaration of Independence and used the opening video clips of Washington DC for the opening and closing credits for our documentary.
Cardinale, Gerald and Anthony Bucco, Hons. “NJ Senate Bill No. 869, Recitation of the Declaration of Independence.” 209th Legislature, January 2000 Parsippany, NY: American Atheists. 12 Nov 2005 <http://www.atheists.org/family/html/body_creator_bill_text.html>. This is the New Jersey bill that Bill Dillon modeled the Florida bill after. Although it was not successful in New Jersey, it helped us understand why the New Jersey proponents thought the Declaration if Independence was important.
Carpenter, F.B. The First Reading of the Emancipation Proclamation Before the Cabinet. c1866. Painted by FB Carpenter, engraved by AH Richie, c1866. Reproduction Number: LC-USZ62-2070 DLC. Washington, DC: Library of Congress. 11 Mar 2006. <http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/alhtml/almintr.html>. We used this engraving of Lincoln in our video.
“Celebrate freedom Week September 26-30, 2005: Lessons, Activities, and Resources to Support the Study of the Declaration of Independence.” Aug 2005. Miami, FL: Miami-Dade County Public Schools. 10 Sept 2005.
<http://www.flrea.org/uscday/CelebrateFreedomWeekPacket2005.pdf>. We considered this a primary source because it showed us what teachers were teaching in the Miami-Dade County School System during Celebrate Freedom Week.
Clary, Charlie Hon. Personal Interview, Longview Elementary School, Shalimar FL. 18 Nov. 2005. Senator Clary, the Senate sponsor of Celebrate Freedom Week, helped us understand how a bill is passed and why he supported the Celebrate Freedom Week bill.
“Constitution of the United States.” Photograph. Charters of Freedom. National Archives and Records Administration. 4 Feb 2006 <http://www.archives.gov/national-archives-experience/charters/constitution_zoom_1.html>. This photo was used in our video.
“Declaration of Independence.” Engraving. Charters of Freedom. National Archives and Records Administration. 4 Feb 2006 <http://www.archives.gov/national-archives-experience/charters/declaration_zoom_2.html>. This photo was used in our video.
Dillon, Bill. “First Letter: Bill Dillon to Dr. Richard Ferrier President, Declaration Foundation, March 21, 2002.” Letter. Herndon, VA: Declaration Foundation. Declaration Foundation Archives. 10 Sept 2005. <http://www.declaration.net/misc/spec-d1.asp>. This primary source helped us understand why Mr. Dillon took a stand for freedom and the obstacles he had to overcome.
---. “Second Letter: Bill Dillon to Dr. Richard Ferrier President, Declaration Foundation, March 21, 2002.” Letter. Herndon, VA: Declaration Foundation. Declaration Foundation Archives. 10 Sept 2005. <http://www.declaration.net/misc/spec-d2.asp>. Same as above.
---. Personal Interview, Longview Elementary School, Shalimar, FL. 18 Nov 2005. Bill Dillon, the person who was responsible for starting Celebrate Freedom Week in Florida, helped us understand why he took a stand for Celebrate Freedom Week and why the Declaration of Independence is an important document.
---. ‘Bill Dillon, Florida Editor.’ GOPUSA.com, Inc. 3 Sept. 2005 <http://www.gopusa.com/florida/editor.shtml>. This primary source helped us understand Mr. Dillon’s background and why he supported Celebrate Freedom Week in Florida. This helped us create our interview questionnaire.
“Emancipation Proclamation” Photograph. Featured Documents. National Archives and Records Administration. 4 Feb 2006. <http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/featured_documents/emancipation_proclamation/transcript.html>. This photo was used in our video.
Florida Legislature. “Recitation of the Declaration of Independence.” July 2002. Tallahassee, FL: The Florida Statutes 2002, Chapter 1003, Part IV, Section 1003.421. Online Sunshine, The Official Internet Site of the Florida Legislature. 10 Sept. 2005. <http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=Ch1003/ch1003.htm>. This is the actual law instituting Celebrate Freedom Week and describes the activities required by teachers and students.
Imwalle, Meredith B and George A Munro. “New Millennium State Practices Survey” Aug. 2005. Washington, DC: National Association of Secretaries of State. 16 Jan 2006 <http://www.stateofthevote.org/New%20Mill%20Survey%20Update.pdf>. This source helped us understand the number of young voters who participated in the past election and helped us validate other secondary sources about voter participation.
Jerry Melvin. Jerry Melvin, Fort Walton, FL. 18 Feb 2006. <www.jerrymelvin.com>. We used this website to find more biographical information on Jerry Melvin.
King, Martin Luther, Jr. “I Have A Dream Speech.” Video. Speech delivered on Aug. 28, 1963. Atlanta, GA: Martin Luther King Jr Center. We used portions of this video in our documentary.
Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address. Photograph. The Joseph N. Nathanson Collection of Lincolniana, McGill University. Montreal, Quebec: McGill University. 14 Jan 2006. <http://digital.library.mcgill.ca/lincoln/exhibit/03.html>. This photo was used in our video.
Lutkus, AD et al. “The NAEP 1998 Civics Report Card Highlights” NCES 2000-460 Nov 1999. National Center for Educational Statistics. http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard//pdf/main1998/2000460.pdf>.Washington, DC: US Department of Education. 20 Nov 2005. The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) is the only nationally recognized organization that provides a continuing assessment of what students in the United States know and can do in various subjects. This 1998 self-assessment helped us understand how the US Department of Education assesses the performance of its students in civics. The next assessment for civics is scheduled for 2006.
McDonald, Donna, 1st Grade Teacher. Personal Interview, Eastside Elementary School, Brooksville FL. 29 Sept. 2005. This interview gave us a first hand view of what teachers think of Celebrate Freedom Week and what they teach their students.
Melvin, Jerry Hon. Personal Interview. Longview Elementary School, Shalimar, FL. 18 Nov. 2005. Mr. Melvin was Chairman of the House Life Long Learning Council and chaired the committee for rewriting all Florida education laws when Celebrate Freedom Week bill was passed. He helped us understand how a bill is passed and why he supported the Celebrate Freedom bill. He also helped us understand why it’s important to take a stand for this country.
Morris, David, Analyst. “We the People Americans Feel Impact of Constitution, but Murky on the Details”. 3 July 2004. 10 Sept 2005
<http://www.abcnews.go.com/sections/us/Politics/fourthofjulypoll030703.html>. This source helped us to understand how little people know about the Declaration of Independence.
On This Day – May 31. Video. New York, NY: ITN Archive. 4 Mar. 2006. <http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-7641205676145204993>. This source provided original video of student protesters in Tiananmen Square in Beijing, China in May 1989.
Quigley, Charles N. “The Civic Mission of the School: What Constitutes an Effective Civic Education?” Speech transcript delivered at the Education for Democracy: The Civic Mission of School, Sacramento, CA. 22 Sept 2005 Papers and Speeches. Calabasa, CA: The Center for Civic Education. 28 Oct 2005. <http://www.civiced.org/pdfs/sacramento0805.pdf>. This source helped us understand how concerned leaders are trying to improve civic education in America and the curriculum suggestions they are making today.
Smith, Michael W. Freedom. (CD) Reunion Records, Nov 2000. Freedom. This source was used for background music for our project.
---. Freedom Battle. (CD) Reunion Records, Nov 2000. Freedom. This source provided the background music for our project.
Stone, Judy, 2nd Grade Teacher. Personal Interview, Eastside Elementary School, Brooksville, FL. 29 Sept. 2005. This interview gave us a first hand view of what teachers think of Celebrate Freedom Week and what they teach their students.
Tanks in Tiananmen Square, June 1989. Photograph. Tiananmen Square, 15 Years After. Suzanne MacNevin. 11 Mar. 2006 <http://www.lilithgallery.com/articles/tiananmen_15years_after.html>. We used this photo in our video.