'Declare IT!' Educational Program Helps Teach Students and Parents about Americas' Founding Freedoms during Celebrate Freedom Week

A new education program, “Declare IT!” helps students and parents learn about America’s founding freedoms and The Declaration of Independence during upcoming Celebrate Freedom Week celebrations in Florida, Arkansas and Texas. A free download of a fun sing-along song and a video documentary of Florida's Celebrate Freedom Week is included.

Alpharetta, GA (PRWEB) September 12, 2006 -- The swell of patriotism that rolled across America after the attacks of 9-11 caused many lawmakers to take another look at American students’ declining report card in American history and civics. America’s students have scored poorly on civics tests and many know little about the basic freedoms on which America was founded.

As a result of this disturbing trend, state lawmakers in Florida and Arkansas followed Texas’ lead and in 2002 and 2003, initiated special curriculum programs in K-12 grades called Celebrate Freedom Week. According to the statutes, one week during each school year students will receive special instruction on America’s founding freedoms and founding documents like the Declaration of Independence.

“Declare IT!” (www.declareitprogram.com) is a new, privately sponsored program that supports Celebrate Freedom Week in Florida, Arkansas and Texas, offers additional program awareness and provides free teaching resources to teachers and parents.

Founded by Jack Boyd of Alpharetta, GA, the program offers a free, fun sing-along song and teaching resources with online links to lesson plans for Celebrate Freedom Week. Boyd founded the program after his two children did a high school history project on Celebrate Freedom Week in Florida. Boyd discovered that Floridians’ knowledge of the program was low and teacher participation was inconsistent.

“America’s students need a solid understanding of America’s history to become the leaders America needs in the future. Celebrate Freedom Week is a great step toward that goal. However, the program is not getting the focus it needs in many areas and teachers need our help. It’s appropriate on this 5-yr anniversary of 9-11, when we pause to remember the lives lost in that tragic event, that America’s teachers, leaders and parents recommit ourselves to teaching our children about the freedoms that were also attacked that day,” said Mr. Boyd.

In 1998, Jack Boyd and daughter Steffy wrote ‘The Declaration of Independence Song,’ a sing-along song to help Steffy learn the words to the Declaration for a 4th grade homework project. Offered on a CD to teachers and parents in 2002 through their website (www.declarationsong.com), the song has become very popular with teachers, home school parents and others across the country. The “Declare IT!” website offers a free download of a shortened version of Boyd’s popular sing-along plus an online video documentary on the history of Florida’s Celebrate Freedom Week.

For more information about the ‘Declare IT!’ program, please visit www.declareitprogram.com.

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