Philadelphia Freedom: 250 years of Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness
Constitution High School (CHS) is a small college-preparatory public school located in the heart of downtown Philadelphia. It is the only Law, Democracy, and History-themed high school within the School District of Philadelphia. CHS is dedicated to empowering students through active citizenship, starting with a robust student government that works to determine school norms and help students learn about representational democracy. It also benefits from a unique partnership with the National Constitution Center and Ballard Spahr LLP, one of the nation’s largest and most diverse law firms. These organizations assist students through research seminars, mentoring, internships, and scholarships with the goal of developing the next generation of engaged citizens and leaders in government, public policy, and law.
In preparation for their exhibition at Philadelphia International Airport, 9th graders from the Advanced Placement art and Cultural Traditions history classes began with a discussion on the Declaration of Independence, especially the concept of “Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness”. Students and faculty also studied various artworks related to artists’ visions of their American Dream. They researched 27 notable Philadelphia locations, people, and movements, then each student selected one of these subjects as the focus of their artwork.
