When Congress mandated schools to celebrate the United States Constitution every year on Sept. 17, it would have been easy to offer a perfunctory program on the document and call it a day.

But from the start, JCCC political science professor Marilyn Gaar was determined to make the mandated Constitution Day a learning moment.

So she and the faculty and staff at JCCC turned creative, offering online games, appearances by costumed historical figures and a test on the document to bring out the competitive spirit of students in American government courses.

This year, American government students taking College Now courses through JCCC will test their knowledge of the U.S. Constitution to win prizes as the college commemorates Constitution Day on Friday, Sept. 16.

 “Students in American government classes are required to master the document,” Gaar said.

Legislation passed by Congress in 2004 requires all educational institutions receiving federal funds to hold an educational program about the United States Constitution for students on Sept. 17 each year, starting in 2005. The day commemorates the day the U.S. Constitution was signed in 1787.

Because Sept. 17 is on a Saturday this year, the events will be held on Sept. 16.

In all, 21 instructors – five on the JCCC campus and 16 who teach the College Now course in area high schools – will be administering tests on constitution basics to bring out the competitive spirit in their students.

“Kids love a competition,” said Nancy Pence, who teaches the College Now government course at Blue Valley North High School in Overland Park. “With the Constitution Day test they get a chance to show off their knowledge with no negative consequences.”

Because Constitution Day falls early in the school year, presenting a test over the document poses a challenge for test-takers and their teachers. Gaar and Pence said their tests focus on basic constitutional knowledge.

Both are enthusiastic about the concept of setting aside time for educators to focus on the Constitution.

“We have the greatest Constitution in the world,” Pence said. “It’s a shame we don’t value it enough to know more about it.”

In addition to the competition, JCCC also will hand out free pocket copies of the Constitution, serve up Constitution cookies and offer trivia about the document and its signers on digital signs around the campus.