Radnor Students Pen Essays On Why 1st Amendment Is Important

RADNOR TOWNSHIP, PA – Ithan and Radnor elementary fourth and fifth grade students recently partook in the Citizenship Challenge where they shared why the First Amendment is important. And one student from each school were named finalists in the challenge.

Students were asked "Why Is The First Amendment Important To You?" by Ithan Elementary teacher Alice Hood and Radnor Elementary teacher Todd Serpico for this year's Citizenship Challenge.

The contest – presented by The Rendell Center for Civics and Civics Engagement, the National Constitution Center, and The Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania –was open to fourth- and fifth-grade students in the five-county Philadelphia area, the Radnor Township School District said.

Kayla Cormier's essay at Ithan Elementary School and Kevin Brown's at Radnor Elementary School were both named finalists in the competition, earning all students in both classes a trip to the finals at the National Constitution Center on Dec. 11. Ten other finalist classes from more than 100 entrants across the area joined the IES and RES teams.

Each class presented its essay to a panel of distinguished judges, including former Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell; the Hon. Marjorie O. Rendell of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit; Reverend Dr. Herbert H. Lusk; and attorney Larry Brown.

The team of fifth-graders at RES were one of three runners-up in the competition, winning a $500 cash prize to be used for a school program that promotes civic learning and engagement in the student body.

All finalists received classroom copies of the "Literature-Based Mock Trials" curriculum developed by the Rendell Center as well as a civics library for their school.

Pictured above is Kayla Cormier leading her class's presentation.

Images via Radnor township School District