Schoolhouse Rock and the Constitution
John Yoo ·
September 18, 2012 at 9:51pm
In honor of yesterday's Constitution Day commemoration, I thought I would post my first memory of the Constitution -- courtesy of Schoolhouse Rock. Anyone who remembers the days of three television channels may also have watched these public service announcements. This one caused me to memorize the preamble to the Constitution:
My other favorite Schoolhouse Rock short, on the legislative process, would -- if shown today -- probably teach youngsters more about the U.S. government than most freshman political science courses:
These days, one wishes more bills just stayed this way and never became law.
- Comment (36)
- · Quote
- · UnfollowFollow (7)
- Pages:
- 1
- 2
Comments:
Aug '10
Re: Schoolhouse Rock and the Constitution
I'm An Amendment To Be
Sep '11
Re: Schoolhouse Rock and the Constitution
I used the second one when teaching freshman political science courses! It seemed to help, since so many of the students refused to read.
Mar '12
Re: Schoolhouse Rock and the Constitution
John, I recall these fondly from my childhood as well. Who could have known how effective they'd be? Now you've got thesethese songs going on in my head.
Oct '11
Re: Schoolhouse Rock and the Constitution
I can still sing the preamble. Not at all sure I could say it without the tune, as a matter of fact.
Re: Schoolhouse Rock and the Constitution
Don't feel bad. I'm pretty sure I've heard John gently humming it during episodes of "Law Talk" for the same reason.
Jul '11
Re: Schoolhouse Rock and the Constitution
That brings back a flood of memories from Sat AM cartoons in the 70's.
"I put a dime in the drug store record machine". Toes tapping, singing along, maybe hit my older brother and run around the house, get hit back, cry, resume watching Bugs Bunny, laugh.
May '10
Re: Schoolhouse Rock and the Constitution
When my lesson plan is finished with some minutes to spare, I sometimes pop one of these on. Perhaps more effective than our text...!
Aug '11
Re: Schoolhouse Rock and the Constitution
Same here. Schoolhouse Rock was how my generation memorized the preamble. You could probably sing the first few words to any 40-something, and have the whole thing sung back at you.
Recently I was watching the one about Westward expansion, and thought to myself that there's no way such a thing would ever get produced today.
Aug '10
Re: Schoolhouse Rock and the Constitution
Waitaminute. In the US, bills go to committee BEFORE they get a vote in the House? Is that correct?
In that case, how do you decide which bills get to go to committee?
Edited on September 18, 2012 at 10:59pmJul '12
Re: Schoolhouse Rock and the Constitution
A co-worker had just become a US citizen and was telling us about preparing for the test. He was surprised when a few us recited the Preamble in unison. He didn't think average citizens knew that. We explained that we were from the generation that grew up singing it.
I'm also a big fan of Multiplication Rock and Grammar Rock (Interjections!) The whole enchilada is available in a 30th Anniversary package for sale on Amazon for less than $20.
Jun '10
Re: Schoolhouse Rock and the Constitution
Well, actually, you have to PASS them to find out what's in them.
May '10
Re: Schoolhouse Rock and the Constitution
I still cannot recite the preamble, but I can sing it. This is a source of great embarrassment to daughter S. I do it as often as possible.
May '10
Re: Schoolhouse Rock and the Constitution
Okay, at the next Ricochet meet-up we will sing the preamble. I will video it and post it!
Edited on September 18, 2012 at 10:40pmMay '10
Re: Schoolhouse Rock and the Constitution
I know it for that reason too!
My kids favorite is the the old classic: Conjunction Junction!
My favorite though, is the "Shot Heard round the world"
Favorite line:
As they end that one:
God Bless America, Let Freedom Ring.
Jun '10
Re: Schoolhouse Rock and the Constitution
Somewhere in here there's an MSNBC "While in discussion with conservatives, former Bush Constitutional adviser uses same cartoons through which he learned the document..."
Nov '11
Re: Schoolhouse Rock and the Constitution
The guy who sings it is named Jack Sheldon.
A few years later The Simpsons did a parody and they called... Jack Sheldon.
It's called Amendment to Be, and as a parody, its spot on.
http://lockerz.com/u/20594681/decalz/6613393/an_amendment_to_be_simpsons_
Aug '10
Re: Schoolhouse Rock and the Constitution
Fred Cole: The guy who sings it is named Jack Sheldon.
A few years later The Simpsons did a parody and they called... Jack Sheldon.
It's called Amendment to Be, and as a parody, its spot on.
http://lockerz.com/u/20594681/decalz/6613393/an_amendment_to_be_simpsons_ · 0 minutes ago
You don't say?
http://ricochet.com/main-feed/Schoolhouse-Rock-and-the-Constitution/(comment)/462731#comment-462731
;-)
Nov '11
Re: Schoolhouse Rock and the Constitution
The thing they left out of I'm Just A Bill is the part where he's written by an industry lobbyist who is a congressman who retired the year before to get paid half a million dollars a year to go back and be a lobbyist.
Nov '11
Re: Schoolhouse Rock and the Constitution
Misthiocracy
Fred Cole: The guy who sings it is named Jack Sheldon.
A few years later The Simpsons did a parody and they called... Jack Sheldon.
It's called Amendment to Be, and as a parody, its spot on.
http://lockerz.com/u/20594681/decalz/6613393/an_amendment_to_be_simpsons_ · 0 minutes ago
You don't say?
http://ricochet.com/main-feed/Schoolhouse-Rock-and-the-Constitution/(comment)/462731#comment-462731
;-) · 1 minute ago
Yeah, but I took the time to dig up the actual video.
Aug '10
Re: Schoolhouse Rock and the Constitution
Fred Cole
Misthiocracy
Fred Cole: The guy who sings it is named Jack Sheldon.
A few years later The Simpsons did a parody and they called... Jack Sheldon.
It's called Amendment to Be, and as a parody, its spot on.
You don't say?
http://ricochet.com/main-feed/Schoolhouse-Rock-and-the-Constitution/(comment)/462731#comment-462731
;-) · 1 minute ago
Yeah, but I took the time to dig up the actual video. · 1 minute ago
I kid, because I love.