It’s in the news all the time. One politician or their allies accuse another politician of violating the Constitution.

What’s a student to believe?

At South and North Davie middle schools, the students can match the comments with their own copy of the Constitution, provided last month by Linda Sechrist and other members of the Daughters of the American Revolution.

“Read for yourself and know what your rights are,” Sechrist told students at North Davie. “Be grateful to our forefathers who gave up whatever it took for you to have freedoms today. You will be taking on more responsibilities, and we need educated citizens.”

Sechrist and her husband, Ed, started the program at South Davie, and it continues to expand.

“The DAR wants to put the Constitution – the facts – in their hands,” she said. She is a member of the Col. Joseph Winston Chapter of the DAR, open to those who can trace their ancestry to the time of the American Revolution. “My pet goal is to bring the DAR into Davie County.”

Her ancestor was Zephaniah Horton, who joined a group in Burnsville to fight at the Battle of Kings Mountain as part of the Green Mountain Boys.

“The whole object is to protect our heritage, educate people about our heritage and preserve it,” Sechrist said.

She got the idea when her grandson, 9, didn’t know what the Constitution was. “I decided other children needed help learning hat the Constitution says.”

The pocket Constitutions were given to eighth graders as it ties in with their studies of American history. “If we can make it mean something to them, then it’s worthwhile,” she said.

Accompanying Sechrist were N.C. House Rep. Julia Howard and Davie Schools Superintendent Dr. Darrin Hartness.