We are saddened to learn of the recent death of Carlton Martz, a longtime contributor to Teach Democracy's publications. For fifty years, Carl made an indelible impact on the publications of Teach Democracy (formerly Constitutional Rights Foundation). Beginning with his first articles for Bill of Rights in Action (BRIA) in 1975 in the issue "American Schools in Crisis" and continuing through his most recent 2025 article "Coffee and World History,” Carl set the standard for academic writing for BRIA, and always demonstrated a vast intellectual curiosity and abiding care for accuracy and truth. Carl was a retired high school teacher and librarian, as well as a world traveler, who brought back his rich experiences to inform his articles and lessons for our readership of teachers and students. We are so grateful to have had Carl's devotion to education and writing for our publications for so long. Please see the feature about him in BRIA from 2023. Details about his funeral service and reception, as well as sending flowers, can be found here: https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/ontario-ca/carlton-martz-12446840. All of us at Teach Democracy send our deepest condolences to his daughters and all his loved ones. (fb)

Calling all Southern California teachers: Mark your calendars for our end-of-summer democracy celebration! Celebrate our country's 250th birthday by discovering new resources for Constitution Day and innovative strategies for tackling the tough questions your students have about our democracy. All K-12 educators will receive: – Ready-to-use lessons you can implement on the very first day of school. – $75 stipend for attending + additional stipend for trying a lesson and giving feedback! – Civil Conversation strategies to confidently discuss current events and complex democratic concepts with your students. – Real-world relevance: Connect your curriculum to what's happening now, making learning more meaningful and impactful for your students. Register today at: http://bit.ly/4lM2UG7 Questions? Contact Laura Wesley at Laura@teachdemocracy.org (fb)