Lucia Cherry Drell was a government teacher in Northern Virginia, at McLean High School. She was a school legend. She taught the U.S. Constitution as a living, breathing document. She saw to it that every student left her class with a clear and personal understanding of the document that outlines and defines our democracy. She adored Thomas Jefferson, and had a portrait of him in the class room, just inside the door. She would address him, as "Mr. Jefferson", when quoting him or to point out the shortcomings of some student. The more irreverent of her students, like myself, addressed him as "TJ". Sometimes as Thomas.
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Mrs. Drell made each and every one of us learn the Bill of Rights by heart, and how each and every amendment applied to us in our lives and would apply in our futures. She made us learn what being an American really meant, the rights and responsibilities that went with our citizenship. She taught us that when we were old enough to vote, that voting was not only a privilege, but an obligation of citizenship. And not only the national elections, the local ones too. To this day, I can read something awful that the Bush people have done or claim is legal and KNOW without a shadow of a doubt that it is un-Constitutional. I may have to go look up the chapter and verse, so to speak, but thanks to Mrs. Drell, I know what is in the Constitution like it's in my bones. Lucia Cherry Drell not only turned out high school graduates, she turned out good citizens with a clear understanding of what the basic laws of this country are, and what the rights of the citizens of this country are.
I am sorry to see her go, we can use more people like her today. We need the clarity of thought and the reverence for the founding documents of this country that she had. If every high school had a Lucia Cherry Drell, Bush would have been impeached as soon as he misappropriated funds for Afghanistan to use to prepare for the Iraq war. If every high school had a Lucia Cherry Drell, people would know and love the Constitution as a living document that guarantees their rights instead of something the Supreme Court changes at will. If every high school had a Lucia Cherry Drell, America as a democracy would not be in danger.
Goodbye Mrs. Drell.. Thank you, and say hi to Mr. Jefferson for me.. tell him we are trying.