Bill Pezza: Trump teaches bad civics lessons

I got a call recently from the leadership at WBCB asking if I’d be interested in writing a weekly column on contemporary issues, particularly how they impact Bucks County, from the “liberal” point of view. I replied that I’m a moderate; actually, I’m passionately moderate. If I had to fall on one side of the political spectrum, I’d probably land just slightly, and I stress slightly, left of center. I’ve voted for Democrats and Republicans in local elections, and I’ve respected leaders on both sides of the aisle. Having made that disclaimer crystal clear, they still wanted me to write. So, here I am. And in this debut column, I’ll let you, the reader, decide where to place me on your personal ideological dartboard.

Let’s start with an issue that truly drives me up the wall: education.

I’m in my 54th year of teaching history and government, and if I had a nickel for every time I’ve heard someone angrily ask, “What are they teaching in our schools? Why don’t kids know civics? Why don’t they understand how government works?” I’d have enough to buy Greenland myself.

Here’s my latest theory: Maybe they don’t understand civics because they’re listening to the President… and Fox News. Before you choke on your muddled Old Fashioned, hear me out.

We study the Constitution in class. My students can tell you what’s actually in it, which is more than I can say for some of today’s Constitution-waving “patriots.” They love invoking it. Understanding it? That’s questionable.

Take this gem: Lately, there was murmuring about the current president running for a third term. Instead of immediately putting that nonsense to bed with a simple “read the Constitution,” he initially opted for the classic dodge: “I don’t know. Maybe. People are saying there are ways.”

Now, if he were in my classroom, I’d kindly direct his attention to the 22nd Amendment, which reads, “No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice.” Not “twice, unless you really, really want it.” Not “unless your name is Donald Trump.” Not even “unless people are saying there are ways.” Just… twice. Period. End of clause.

At this point, my students would rightly ask, “But can’t the Constitution be changed?” Yes, it can. So we’d flip to Article V, Section 1, which outlines the arduous amendment process: Two-thirds of both Houses of Congress must agree, followed by ratification from three-fourths of the states. (Still with me? I know, civics can be dry, but hang in there. It’s more exciting than a current Sixers game. I promise.)

Now, let’s all take a deep breath and ask ourselves, what’s the likelihood of two-thirds of Congress voting to give Donald Trump a third term? And then convincing 38 states to go along with it? Exactly.

Still, undeterred, some constitutional contortionists suggested a backup plan. Maybe—just maybe—Trump could run as vice president with a loyal stooge at the top of the ticket. Then, after the election, said stooge conveniently resigns, and voilà: President Trump 3.0.

Clever? Maybe. Legal? Nope.

Back to the Constitution we go, this time the 12th Amendment, which clearly states: “No person constitutionally ineligible to the office of President shall be eligible to that of Vice President of the United States.”

Oops. Foiled again.

If Trump’s ineligible to be President in 2028, he’s also ineligible to be Vice President. Logic: it’s not just for math class.

But enough about him. Here’s the bigger issue: Teaching civics is already hard enough without the president playing fast and loose with the Constitution for fun. How exactly are students supposed to make sense of their government when the guy in charge is treating constitutional limits like a bad suggestion?

And while we’re at it, how’s a student supposed to interpret Article II (that’s the one about presidential powers) when the president announces he “wants” Greenland and might just get it “one way or another”?

So, when school boards and teachers in Bucks County are asked, “What are we teaching our kids?” a fair response might be, “We’re just trying to help them “unlearn” some of the nonsense they’re learning from the White House.”

There is nothing “liberal” about that.

Bill Pezza, a former Bristol Borough Council president, teaches history and government at Bucks County Community College.