A letter from a reader: Teaching about the Constitution  March
19, 2008:  Why must everything be either/or when it comes to
political issues? Like Roe vs. Wade: abortion on demand or none
at all. Professor Stanley Katz's approach (Perspective, Nov. 21)
seems very like that: either heroes, or just a little chronology
and a lot of interpretation in accordance with current
politically correct opinions.  Heroes is a loaded word for
professors who would like something a bit more nuanced and much
more critical. But I think Sen. Robert Byrd's objective is
educating the "great unwashed," as they used to be called, who
do need some facts and a realization that the Constitution was a
remarkable achievement for its time that has survived to the
present day with just a few key modifications. Even college
students outside of serious liberal institutions could use a
good dose of, dare I say it, official history. Our national
institution is all we have in the dangerous world in which we
live. International institutions for