Constitution Bee at 1881 Courthouse Sept. 18

How many constitutional rights can you name? The 1881 Courthouse Museum is inviting children from around the area to test their knowledge in a Constitution Bee Sept. 18, and the public is invited to join the crowd in the courtroom.
This event is one of several ways the 1881 Courthouse Museum is celebrating the 250th birthday of America. They also hosted a patriotic story time around July 4 with the Custer County Library, reading two true stories about a hero and a heroine during the American Revolution. The books were borrowed from the Daughters of the American Revolution, and 43 parents and children came to the event.
Then, when cleaning out the clothing vaults last winter, two revolutionary war era uniform reproductions for pipe and drum corps, along with reproduction instruments, were discovered. These were put on display at the museum, which was decked out in patriotic decorations with the help of volunteers. Local veteran Jim Welch also donated a reproduction of the Declaration of Independence to go with the display.
1881 Courthouse Museum director Deb Hanagan said the Constitution Bee will be the “capstone acknowledgement of the nation’s founding and the important documents and the history that goes with that.”
There will be two age groups competing in the Constitution Bee, 8-11 and 12-15 plus, with age appropriate questions. No time limit will be enforced for answering questions. 
“We don’t want this to be scary or hard for the kiddos,” said Hanagan. “It’s like a spelling bee, but rather than spelling a word, you’re answering a question.”
Hanagan has spent the last couple of weeks creating questions, and currently has around 40 easier questions for the younger age group and around 70 harder questions for the older students. She was joined in creating the questions and finding resources by Cindy Bourne, Ann Marie Ashton and Isaac Noe. 
Along with the Constitution itself, Hanagan used sources like “Civics and the Constitution,” “Elementary Catechism on the Constitution,” “The Federalist Papers,” “Master Books: America at 250,” “Biblical Citizenship in Modern America” and the National Archives’ website. 
“I had a lot of input for the questions that I distilled into easier ones for the younger group and a little bit harder ones. The intention is not for it to be a philosophical stumper. This is an opportunity to have some fun, show some knowledge, but also educate. If a kid gets the question wrong, I’m looking at everybody that’s in the room, kids and parents, and we’ll answer the question,” said Hanagan. 
Hanagan said the questions are things that Americans should know about one of the most important documents in the Nation’s founding. 
Since Sept. 17 is National Constitution Day, Hanagan said they decided to host the Constitution Bee Friday, Sept. 18. 
“The timing seemed to be right because there is federal legislation that does require school districts to teach the Constitution on Constitution Day, and it works out really well here because the school district doesn’t have class on Friday,” said Hanagan. “In theory, all the kids have been exposed to something, and I know the home school groups are studying it, and they made it part of their curriculum.”
Hanagan said she was thrilled that both the home school groups in the area and the Custer School District were receptive to the idea.
For the event, Hanagan, Bourne and Arlene Kallis will be dressed in costume, and children are also invited to dress in era appropriate attire to enhance the experience. 
Pre-registration is encouraged, but not required for this free event. This will include the student’s name, age and parental contact information. Contestants can be registered by calling 605-673-2443 or emailing 1881courthousemuseum@gwtc.net.
The day of the event, check-in and registration are at 10:30 a.m., and the competition will begin at 11 a.m. in the courtroom with the 8-11 year old group. 
Depending on the amount of interest, Hanagan said they will either have the groups go separately, go between groups or ask questions in rounds. The public is welcome to attend to watch the proceedings. 
To prepare for the event, Hanagan recommended studying archives.gov/founding-docs/constitution, online.hillsdale.edu/courses/pro mo/constitution-101 and masterbooks.com/America-250-homeschool. 
“We’re trying to make it a positive experience,” said Hanagan. 
This event is sponsored by Lewis Realty, and Faith Lewis will be asking the first question. 
“I thought that was great,” said Hanagan. “She stepped up for it, and then she wanted to be a part of it.” 
There will be a grand prize for the winner of each category. Mike Murphy also donated 98 booklets with the Constitution and Declaration of Independence for the participants. Hanagan also wanted to thank Aaron Kolbeck for making the original flyer for the event. 
Ultimately, Hanagan said the values that our nation was founded on are worth remembering and honoring, especially since America is the only constitutional republic that has endured in human history.
“There had never been a form of government set up the way they set it up. They didn’t know if it would succeed or not,” said Hanagan. “It’s a good reminder that it was not predetermined that they would be successful, and there were lots of arguments over the course of that very hot summer, where they kept the windows closed because they didn’t want people to hear. 
“I didn’t realize it, but when they finished the convention, they were all sworn to secrecy. It wasn’t until after the various guys that were there were dying that their notes or their family talked about their experience in it. Because when they walked out, they wanted the public to see them as unified.”
Hanagan referenced a time during the Constitutional Convention when they were on the cusp of failure, and Benjamin Franklin called for a day of prayer. 
“He said, ‘We need to remember that God is behind everything. He is here with us. And if we remember God, then we will be successful. It’s if we turn away from Him and forget Him, then we will fail,’” said Hanagan. “I think it’s important to remember that there is something special about this country and the people who created it, and they didn’t forget that there is a higher power… There are rights that are given to us by God that no government can take away, and I think a lot of Americans don’t know that, didn’t learn it or don’t remember it. So this is a re-grounding in what made America so exceptional.”
Thus, Hanagan said the Constitution Bee is a way to remind and educate people on the principles America was founded on.