21st Annual Bill of Rights
Art and Essay Contest, 2004-2005

for Students in Grades 7 through 12

TOPIC:  Does reciting "Under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance at school violate the Constitution?

Four 1st prizes of $150		Four 3rd prizes of $50
Four 2nd prizes of $100		Plus Certificates of Merit
Prizes awarded for art and essay, high school and middle school, winning entries.

This topic continues to be the subject of many controversial decisions by the Courts. Read background information on the law and opinions on both sides of the issue that should be helpful in developing the essay or work of art.

CONTEST RULES

• Any student in grades 7 through 12 in a Monterey County public or private school is eligible.
   
• All entries must include the student's name, address, and telephone number, the school, the grade, and the teacher's name.
   
• Entries must be submitted by November 29, 2004, to:
  • Essays -- ACLU Monterey County, P.O. Box 1112, Pacific Grove, CA 93950
  • Art -- Youth Arts Collective, 550 Hartnell Street, Monterey, CA 93940
     
• Students may ask their teachers or parents for advice, but each essay or work of art must be exclusively the work of the student.
   
• A jury of qualified educators and artists will select the winners. Prizes are awarded for art and essay, high school and middle school, winning entries.
   
• Essays:
  • Will be judged for content and for style.
  • Must be typed or legibly written on one side of 8½" x 11" sheets of paper.
  • Are limited to a maximum of 750 words for 7th and 8th grade students.
  • Are limited to a maximum of 1250 words for 9th through 12th grade students.
     
• Works of art:
  • May include painting, photography, hand and computer rendered images, or drawings.
  • Must be ready for display.
  • Are limited to a maximum size when matted or framed of 24" x 36".
  • Will be judged by the following criteria:
    • Theme -- work that reflects the student's own feelings about the issue;
    • Execution -- creative excellence in the execution of the work; and
    • Emotional content -- work that is evocative and moves the spirit or the heart.
       
• Winners of the contest will be presented with their prizes and works of art will be exhibited at the January 2005 ACLU Annual Membership Meeting at the Monterey Public Library, 625 Pacific Street, Monterey. Copies of the first prize essays will be available at the meeting and will be posted on this website. All winning artwork will also be available at this website.

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For more information, see background information on the topic.

Additional information is also available for educators.