NASHVILLE — Members of the 917 Society held a luncheon at the Cordell Hull Building in Nashville this week to honor and recognize supporters.
As reported, the 917 Society exists to help improve constitutional literacy among Tennessee eighth graders.
And because of the 917 Society, every eighth-grader in Tennessee gets a copy of the U.S. Constitution.
At their luncheon last week, in the Cordell Hull Building, members recognized, among many others, State Sen. Joey Hensley, R-Hohenwald, State Sen. Ed Jackson, R-Jackson, State Rep. Terri Lynn Weaver, R-Lancaster, and State Sen. Dawn White, R-Murfreesboro.
Meanwhile, State Sen. Kerry Roberts, R-Springfield, presented a 917 Society Founders Club Award to State Sen. Janice Bowling, R-Tullahoma.
Members of the group also recognized Angie McClanahan, an eighth-grade teacher at Whitmore Middle School in Columbia.
“Your generous gifts have made it possible for my eighth-graders to have their own copies of the Constitution,” McClanahan told the crowd.
“Our kids don’t have a workbook or a textbook to take home with them. I actually have children who say ‘You mean we get to keep this. One child even said ‘It’s like having knowledge in your pocket.’”
Joni Bryan launched the 917 Society just a few years ago.
Eighth-grade is the year students are supposed to have civics in the U.S. curriculum.
According to Bryan’s Facebook page, McClanahan was accompanied by one of her students, Caitlyn Spender, and her Principal Lance Evans.
Due to the lack of funding and resources, teachers find it difficult to add one more thing to their classroom agenda. That’s where the 917 Society comes in. Their goal is to provide every eighth grader in Tennessee with a copy of the Constitution.
Tennessee is the first state to offer a free state Constitution Day program.
The organization reached 25,000 students in 2017 and will reach 85,000 more in 2018.
Donations to the 917 Society are accepted online at www.917society.com/donate/ or you may mail a check made out to: The 917 Society, 400 Warioto Way #902, Ashland City, Tn. 37015
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Chris Butler is an investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star. Follow Chris on Facebook. Email tips to [email protected].
