2024 is an election year, which means the debates and arguments will be plentiful, whether they are calm and respectful or emotionally heated and uncivil. One thing that voters can count on, though, is that those running for office will mention the United States Constitution. You’re also sure to count on some from both sides of the political aisle to say that they are defending it or upholding it, while others will accuse their rivals of violating or being a threat to the 236-year-old document.
How are folks supposed to make sense of it all? Pitman High School teacher Isaac W. Farhadian will try his best to help.
Farhadian teaches AP U.S. Government and Politics and U.S. Government and Economics at Pitman, while also serving as the advisor to the school’s Junior State of America chapter, which has won the prestigious Ernest A. Rogers Award for best chapter in all of Northern California three times. He is also a member of the National Constitution Center’s Constitutional Fellows Program, and was recently chosen as one of 23 Fellows across the nation to pilot the new Constitution 101 course, which is designed to teach young people about the nation’s founding documents and their relevance today.
This nonpartisan course led by Farhadian is being offered at Turlock Adult School under the class name “Amer. Gov’t./ Economics.”
“I’m excited to offer this opportunity to our adult school students and the greater community at large,” Farhadian said. “The U.S. Constitution makes up the legal bedrock of our society. Learning about the debates surrounding its ratification, the different landmark court cases that have shaped American history, the different interpretations legal scholars have utilized to unpack its meaning, and the different responsibilities the three branches have, is essential to understanding how our government operates.”
The semester-long program draws from the NCC’s curated selection of historical texts and Supreme Court cases, encouraging students to seek out and understand arguments from various legal and political perspectives, and in turn motivating them to engage in civil dialogue and come to independent conclusions.
“We are fortunate to offer Constitution 101 at Turlock Adult School,” said principal Jessie Ceja. “This allows members of our community the opportunity to analyze our government and how being active citizens is of utmost importance to our country.”
The 23 Fellows teaching the course will receive a range of unique opportunities throughout the school year, including live classes that provide students an opportunity to learn from judges, journalists, public officials and other experts.
According to Turlock Adult School students from this past semester, the course is a hit.
“The class was eye-opening and very educational. It started right from the beginning, giving us an introduction to how the actual government came to be, the ideas that founded it and how those ideas are still present to this day but with modifications that we learned throughout the class so the laws and the way the government works accommodates for all citizens of the United States,” said Citlali Acuna. “I think it’s important to learn this type of information because it gives you a deeper understanding of your own rights and how things work in the country you’re living in.”
Kirk Wood went as far as saying he has learned more about the constitution than he did when he was in high school.
“I’m thankful for taking this class and my knowledge about the Constitution has increased substantially,” he said.
Registration for spring classes begins Jan. 9 at https://tas.turlock.k12.ca.us/.
