September 14, 2009

Why laws are necessary, who are the founders of modern Bulgaria and how was the Turnovo Constitution created can learn children from the new educational booklet of the National Assembly called “The first parliament of Bulgaria". It was presented on the eve of the new school year by the President Tsetska Tsacheva and its first readers were young people, members of the Association "Bulgarian children and youth's parliament".

The premiere was attended by the author of the publication Zornitsa Christova, the booklet artistic designer Kapka Kuneva, the booklet consultant Yordanka Gesheva - Senior Fellow at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences and Violeta Elenska, Bulgarian children and youth parliament’s Association Chair.

The booklet is part of a series of initiatives to commemorate the 130th anniversary of the Constituent Assembly and the adoption of the Turnovo Constitution, started by my predecessor - the Chairman of the 40th National Assembly Georgi Pirinski, said Tsetska Tsacheva. I appreciate highly the accomplished work, because thanks to this we now have the opportunity to introduce the third edition of the book, the purpose of which is to educate children about the National Assembly, she added.

Tsetska Tsacheva pointed out that the book is interesting for adults too, as it offers a different point of view on complex issues. The edition enables children to get the knowledge of the institutions, which symbolize statehood, she added.

The Assembly President praised the involvement of children and young people in the work of promoting the activities of the parliament because, in her words, this seemingly prosy matter is converted into something entertaining and interesting in the presence of young parliamentarians.

While presenting her book, the author Zornitsa Hristova noted that it has become tradition at the first day of the school year, all vehicles to turn on lights, to draw attention at the dangers, menacing children on the road. But, she said, no one pays attention to the even greater danger for children in their classrooms - boredom. The story of the Constituent Assembly can teach us that children are entitled, and in some sense even obligated to participate in the governance of their country because their grandparents have made no small efforts to make it happen, she pointed out. I hope this book will be enough interesting to make them remember better this fact and to never give up this right of theirs in the future, added Mrs. Zornitsa Hristova.

In sixteen pages, the richly illustrated booklet, which can be used as a teaching tool as well, tells the history of events and activities in the first Bulgarian Parliament. It contains exciting facts about the elections to the Constituent Assembly, the most prominent of its members and the basics of the Turnovo Constitution.

In addition to information and interesting facts about the activities and events that had occurred in the first Bulgarian Parliament and the summary of the Turnovo Constitution, the small book suggests interesting games. One of the games urges students to think of an ideal state, such as they imagine it, or to design a national emblem of their own and to held a vote for it.

"When people want to do something together, they need rules. When they want to have a state they need the laws. Laws are rules, without which the state can not exist "is the message to young readers.

The publication is part of the National Assembly’s policy to establish an active institutional educational communication. In connection to this policy the Directorate for Press and Public Relations of the National Assembly organizes visits of pupils and students in the parliament building and maintains interactive educational web sites for children. The booklet will be distributed to children during their visits in the National Assembly and by MPs in their electoral districts.