Staff Reports
The Lansing, Kansas school district turned down a donation of pocket Constitutions meant for National Constitution Day. What sounds like a small, harmless civics giveaway quickly became a messy fight over politics, policy, and plain common sense inside Lansing USD 469.
What happened in Lansing, Kansas?
A group called the 917 Society, which has donated pocket Constitutions nationwide, worked with Moms for Liberty to provide copies for Lansing Middle School students. The copies arrived and were initially accepted. Then a school board member raised objections about a campaign post mentioning the donation, and Superintendent Marty Kobza reversed the decision. The official reason given was concern that accepting the booklets could look like endorsing a candidate or political group.
Why this decision makes no sense
This is not about banning a controversial novel or censoring history. These are copies of the United States Constitution — the very document schools are supposed to teach. To refuse pocket Constitutions because someone mentioned the donation on social media is ridiculous. It is even more absurd when the district will accept a branded vehicle donation from a local dealer and allows outside groups to register students to vote. If a truck with a website link can park on school property, the Constitution should not be treated like contraband.
What this says about the school board
Lansing USD 469’s actions show how school governance can drift from student needs into political theater. Board member Kirsten Workman tried to put the pocket Constitutions back on the agenda. No one seconded the motion. Other members declined to explain their stance. That silence points to either fear of controversy or a double standard: corporate branding and certain civic groups are fine, but civic education tied to conservative networks gets stalled. Parents deserve consistency, not mixed messages.
The simple fix and the bottom line
School boards should adopt clear, neutral policies that let schools accept nonpartisan educational materials. Handing students a copy of the Constitution helps civic literacy, plain and simple. If officials worry about appearances, require simple labeling rules — not a ban. Lansing USD 469 should reverse course, accept the pocket Constitutions, and stop treating basic civics like a political hot potato. Students lose when adults put politics ahead of teaching.
