VITAL POLICY – Social Media Hampers Constitutional Education Efforts in Tennessee and Beyond

Nashville, Tennessee based 917 Society distributes pocket copies of the United States Constitution and related educational materials free of charge to eighth grade students in all 50 states.

The organization has hundreds of volunteers and operates primarily on donations from patriotic people. Publicity is important to securing donations, recruiting volunteers, and contacting educators. However, getting the word out to potential donors and educators is made difficult by algorithms utilized by certain social media platforms. Apparently, the effort to advertise the distribution of free copies of the constitution to American students triggers a pre-programmed set of barriers.

“The 917 Society is on a mission to honor and celebrate Constitution Day in our 8th grade classrooms across America! We have reached out to over 27,000 schools and have orders for pocket Constitutions from schools in all 50 states this year. However, social media has limited our reach and we need help getting the word out. Please share to help us reach our youth this year with the actual words of our U.S. Constitution plus free videos, lesson plans and educational resources to help them learn and grow in citizenship. It only takes $25 to sponsor one classroom for each student to receive their very own pocket Constitution. You or your organization can also serve as volunteers to help deliver materials to the schools. To donate please visit The 917 Society. To volunteer, email volunteer@917society.org. You can make a difference for our youth and our country one classroom at time!”

Joni Bryan, Executive Director, 917 Society

If you would like to help the 917 Society in its mission to provide free copies of the constitution to American students, click on the direct donation link provided here: Donation Page – 917 Society

David Seal is a retired Jefferson County educator, recognized artist, local businessman, and current Chairman of the Jefferson County Republican Party. He has also served Jefferson County as a County Commissioner and is a lobbyist for the people on issues such as eminent domain, property rights, education, and broadband accessibility on the state level.