Cathy Travis, author of The Constitution Translated for Kids, will be our Guest Speaker on Friday morning, September 19th at this year's Expo event. A resident of Washington, DC, she is currently retired as Communications Director for Rep. Solomon P. Ortiz (Texas).
Cathy Travis was pulling a little red wagon when she got started in politics. The Capitol Hill veteran of today still has a lot in common with that 8 to 12 year-old girl
who made the rounds of turtle races and catfish fries in Arkansas to hand out campaign literature from her wagon. "When I was a little bitty kid I wanted to be part of something bigger that helped people"
Explaining the government to kids is so hard that adults frequently bypass real information and substitute ambiguous or negative comments about politicians. But “We the people” are the government, and the single supreme document that established our government and articulates our rights and responsibilities is a profoundly simple document: the United States Constitution.
While many U.S. citizens cannot imagine reading the Constitution in its entirety, Cathy Travis has not only read it, but in her book, The Constitution Translated for Kids, she has actually translated the preamble, each article and amendment into modern-day terminology that an average fifth grader can understand:
"Show up, be engaged … be the “We the People” our founders envisioned."
The Constitution Translated for Kids pairs the original document with an easy-to-read version that clearly restates the ideas that form the foundation of American democracy. Travis also includes a timeline, modern applications of the document and an explanation of the actual and proposed
amendments to assist in the full understanding of this invaluable piece of history and the foundation of our government.
The book highlights the importance of a thorough knowledge of the American government, especially at a time of unrest in this nation and the world. To help teachers relate the values of our Constitution to their students, Cathy provides a
