“Legislative, judicial and… executive!”

“Good job! That’s right.”

That was just one of the high-level exchanges that happened in Melanie Bender’s fifth-grade class at Eastover Elementary School on Monday, March 16. The students celebrated Liberty Day with a special lesson on the U.S. Constitution, taught by a special guest: Charlotte City Councilmember Edwin Peacock.

“It’s important to recognize our country’s heritage in the classroom,” Councilman Peacock said. “I was just amazed how well this class understood the ties between local government and the Constitution.”

Councilmember Peacock gave each student a copy of the Liberty Day Pocket Constitution book, which includes a copy of the U.S. Constitution and the Declaration of Independence. He reviewed the Constitution with the students and went over 24 questions and answers about the document.

“Who is the Commander-in-Chief of our Army and Navy?” asked the councilman.

“The President,” answered one of the students.

“Correct!” said Peacock.

Liberty Day is a nonprofit organization that started in Colorado to educate students about civics, citizenship and the documents that were part of the founding of the United States. It is celebrated on March 16, the birthday of James Madison, known as the “father of the Constitution.” Elected officials across the country are invited to participate in the celebration, teach students about the Constitution, and share their roles and responsibilities as an elected representative of the people.

“I think it was great that we had someone from our own government teach us about our old government, from way back in the 1700’s,” said student Gaby Soden. “I really liked talking about trial by jury and how we became a free country and why it’s so important.”

Councilman Peacock said as an elected official, it’s important to instill in young minds the importance of civic responsibility. “Somebody really fought for this document, so Americans have the right to vote,” he said as he held up a copy of the Constitution. “But many Americans just don’t do it. They say, ‘It’s raining,’ or, ‘I’m busy and I just can’t make it to the polls,’ and that’s not a good thing.”

The councilman hopes to return to the class on May 20, the anniversary of the signing of the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence. The document was signed on May 20, 1775, in Charlotte and declared Mecklenburg County’s independence from Great Britain after hearing about the battle of Lexington.