Duniway Middle School students got an in-school visit from Oregon Archivist Mary Beth Herkert today.
Herkert dropped in to Jeremy Hurl’s eighth grade Social Studies class to talk about the Oregon Constitution Challenge, a year-long effort to restore the state’s founding document and make it more accessible to the public. Currently, the Constitution is only displayed on February 14, Oregon’s birthday.
Based on the 1984 campaign to re-gild the “Gold Man” atop the state Capitol building by mobilizing students across the state to raise funds, the Constitution Challenge offers students a chance to become part of the effort to bring the 1857 original state Constitution out of lockup and put on permanent display. Every school that contributes at least $250 to the project will have its name engraved on a plaque that will be displayed with the original Constitution.
The visit was sparked by student Kaylani Kam’s plan to involve Duniway in the challenge. Kaylani plans to raise the donation funds by hosting a school dance on April 22.
Click here for more information about the Oregon Constitution Challenge.