---

By Mike Cason
May 14, 2003

More than 500 high school students participate Tuesday in a march and rally at the state Capitol calling  for tax and constitutional reforms. - Photos by Karen S. Doerr, Advertiser

   An idea born in an American history class at Holtville High School turned more than 500 teenagers
into sign-toting, slogan-chanting advocates for constitutional reform Tuesday.

   The students, mostly from Elmore County schools, marched up sunny Dexter Avenue to the state Capitol steps shortly before noon shouting in unison: "Reform now."

   Their goal was to get the attention of state lawmakers.

   "If they don't pay attention to us, we'll just do it again next year," said Jessica Thomas, a Holtville High School sophomore.

   Jessica is a member of Robby Broom's 10th-grade history class at Holtville, which came up with the
idea for the march during a classroom discussion about the state constitution.

   Broom's class created a Web site and recruited students from other schools, including Tallassee High
School, Stanhope Elmore High School, WetumpkaHigh School and Prattville High School.

   An April 17 article about Broom's class in the Montgomery Advertiser attracted the interest of Alabama
Citizens for Constitutional Reform, which has advocated reform for about four years. ACCR joined forces with the students and helped them stage a rally on the Capitol steps.

   "Alabama is at a crossroads," Kathryn Bowden, executive director of ACCR, told the group. "There's never been a greater need for reform. There's never been a greater need for activism."

Tallassee High School sophomores Brittany Purter, left, and LaToya Henderson show their support for constitutional reform.

   Critics of the 1901 constitution say it hobbles effective government because it keeps county governments weak and forces them to ask the Legislature to resolve local issues. That helps special interests who can focus lobbying efforts in Montgomery, critics say.

   Others want to rewrite the constitution because it was written to exclude blacks and poor whites from
voting in ways that were outlawed decades ago.

   Critics also say the constitution is too long and detailed for what is intended to be a broad framework
for government.

   The marching students carried signs reading "Reform Now, It's my Future" and "Fight to Rewrite." Some signs expressed support for reform in the context of more money for education, such as one that read: "Stanhope needs a new fieldhouse and new gym."

   Some reforms are in the works.

   Gov. Bob Riley has proposed changes to the constitution based on recommendations of his study commission, which received input from ACCR. Riley also has asked lawmakers to meet in special session starting May 19 to consider tax increases and spending reforms that also would change the constitution, with voters approval.

   Even before the special session, the Legislature is considering three constitutional bills at Riley's suggestion. One would give county governments more power to recruit industry, regulate public safety and health, regulate land use and propose tax increases, but not without voter approval.

   Another bill would remove racist provisions in the constitution. A third would recompile the constitution
in a shorter and more logical manner.

   Bill O'Connor, former president of the Business Council of Alabama and the head of Campaign for Alabama, a business group that is advocating tax reform and government reforms, told the students he remembered standing on the Capitol steps in the 1960s and hearing politicians talk about Alabama's potential.

   "It's time to quit talking about it," O'Connor said. "It's time to do something about it."

   The students also heard from Leeds Elementary School teacher Betsy Rogers, who was honored as National Teacher of the Year by President Bush at a White House ceremony on April 30. She received the award from the Council of Chief State School Officers.

   "I want the citizens of Alabama to value education so much that there would never be an issue of
equity in education," Rogers said.

   After the rally, the students moved to a large tent on the north lawn of the Capitol, where they ate
barbecue sandwiches provided by the Alabama Education Association.

   Later, they went to the Alabama State House, where members of Broom's class planned to talk to
legislators.

   Broom said he was proud of his class and did not expect them to drop the issue now that the march is
over. He said he expected lawmakers to pay attention to the student movement.

   "They might not get it done today, but they're letting you know that they're going to be here," Broom said. "They're all future voters, and they're setting this as their goal."

   Mike Cason can be reached at 240-0117, or by e-mail at casonmike@yahoo.com.

Return to: Constitutional Reform ~ In the News
Return to: Editorial Index