Courtesy | Emma Turner
Most children have little interest in learning about constitutional amendments. Freshman Emma Turner said she thinks she has found a way to change that.
For her high school senior project, Turner wrote and illustrated a children’s book called “My Living Constitution: A Children’s Guide to U.S. Constitutional Amendments.” The book discusses the framers’ role in the creation of the Constitution, as well as what an amendment is, how amendments are passed, and why they are important.
While attending the Waldorf School of Orange County, California, Turner said she became passionate about politics, history, and the U.S. Constitution. When Turner was assigned her senior project, she knew exactly what to do.
“I wanted to develop a project that would combine all these passions while also making an impact in my community,” Turner said.
The topic of her project was to demonstrate that the Constitution is a living document, able to adapt to a current societal context. Turner hoped to use the historical amendment process to prove this point.
Growing up, Turner and her mother, Jennifer Turner, listened to conservative radio on car rides, which kindled a love for politics at an early age.
“So we were talking about a lot of different subjects, and I said, ‘Well, make it something that’s meaningful to you. Make it something that you really want to feel passionate about,’” Jennifer Turner said.
Jennifer Turner said her daughter spent hours drawing and perfecting the book.
At first, Emma Turner took on lengthy research to obtain accurate information. Next, she worked on illustrations for several months, ensuring that every intricate detail was correct. After completing the research and illustrations, she learned how to format and self-publish her book.
Emma Turner said she also found herself fascinated with the beauty of the Constitution.
“The Constitution was never perfect to begin with; it was written by imperfect humans,” she said. “But it was perfect in the way that it could be changed to fit the time, and near-perfection can be achieved through amendments.”
Turner said she seeks to unify Americans with her book. Specifically, she said she believes that Americans must find their commonality under the Constitution in order to become a united people.
“We live in a very divided country, and I believe that regardless of your ethnicity, gender, age, or political party, we are all united under the U.S. Constitution, and we can share this unity through preserving this document for future generations and striving to make it more perfect through amendments,” Turner said.
Turner said she has had a talent for telling stories since she was young. She decided to use her abilities to combat the widespread lack of education on the Constitution. According to Turner, it has always been her dream to be an author.
“I knew that this project would be the perfect way to realize this dream,” Turner said. “I also strongly believe that children need to learn these truths in order to inspire change and patriotism in younger generations.”
The book features colorful illustrations, which direct the reader to concise summaries of constitutional amendments. One page summarizes the First Amendment. It includes illustrations of free speech, the freedom of religion, the freedom of the press, and the right to petition. Turner’s book costs $12, and is available for purchase on stargirljewelryco.com/books.
“I created this book with lots of bright colors, illustrations, and diagrams, so that it could be easy to follow along at a younger age, but also be interesting and applicable to older children,” Turner said.
Turner said many of her peers disapproved of the project. They also disapproved of Turner’s internship with the Orange County Republican Party, where she helps with office work and campaigns for candidates such as Larry Elder. As she publicized her conservative values, she was met with increasing anger and even lost some friends. Turner’s mother said that it was brave of her to proceed with writing the book.
“She went to a pretty non-traditional school that had a lot of liberal values,” she said. “Her internship with the Republican Party outed her for her conservative beliefs. When she did the Constitution, there were a lot of people that felt that it was a racist document and that it shouldn’t exist.”
Others, like various educators who purchased the book, provided more positive responses.
Laurie Birt, a teacher from Shawnee Mission School District in Kansas, said the book was a reasonable price, and the sale was professional.
“I’m a first grade teacher who owns hundreds of books, and I have to tell you that your book knocked my socks off,” Birt said. “Not only were the illustrations engaging and child-friendly, but the text makes one of the hardest topics to teach to first graders so simple and relatable. Once teachers get word of something great, they pounce!”
Turner’s final senior project included not only a children’s book on the Constitution, but also a lecture to accompany it. In this lecture, posted on YouTube, Turner explains her project’s overarching theme.
“The main message I want everyone to take away from here is that from movie stars, construction workers, and football players, to moms, chefs, and businessmen, we are all Americans. We must respect each other for our differences to ensure the long life of the United States,” Turner said. “This message is the last line in my children’s book, and it is something I believe we need to remind ourselves of, especially now.”