I am an 8th Social Studies teacher, who was allowed to attend two different Constitutional Weekends at Montpelier. Immediately I started to see the intelligence of Will Harris’ argument, and agreed with him on his belief in description. I am a full believer that many people have an opinion on a problem, with no real [...]
Posts under ‘Front of the Class’
A Visual Interpretation of the Financial Crisis
Remember Madison’s worries about the imprecision of language? More than a few Americans have been overwhelmed by the news about the financial crisis and have no idea what to think about all the information. Many have been convinced to be afraid but few know what the problem really is. Jonathan Jarvis offers this incredibly simply [...]
It's America and We are One
Did you see the We are One celebration yesterday? It was a powerful combination of our best words, music, and ideas. From the MLK and JFK quotes you’d expect to Reagan quotes you wouldn’t. I wouldn’t call myself a fan of Mary J. Blige or Jon Bon Jovi but they provided a moving performance with [...]
National Academy 2008: Is it Over?
The Rangeview building is nearly quiet this afternoon. It isn’t that the exchange students all went to the beach today but that this year’s National Academy has run out of time. The machines still hum but the electricity of rigorous academic work is missing. From a discussion of constitutional citizenship befitting an intelligent people to [...]
Constitutional Thinking Requires Constitutional Teaching
At the National Academy today, Kevin Fox presented his thoughts on his own constitutional thinking and teaching. In the Academy tradition, his inquiry started with, “What is it?”. His answers included… Reasoned Reflective Creative constructive imaginative Present on-going Whole ordered (not orderly) Scientific systematic experimental Balanced (between extremes) Inclusive (of the parts and the whole) [...]
A People United by Links
A number of links and web resources were discussed during the NEH Landmarks Institute at Montpelier. I’m going to post a few that I caught and ask that everyone add to the list by posting a comment to share your best kept secrets on the web. Sue Leeson shared this resource created by Gordon Lloyd. [...]
To provoke: More Serious Questions about Constitutional Thinking
To provoke thinking and discussion, I will find a way to blend some of the quotes listed below (from the 2008 Montpelier Workshop #2) into my pedagogy in 2008-09. Please add to the list and/or suggest how to build these into class discussion, writing assignments, or projects/activities. 1. To make a polity is more difficult [...]
When We See Many as One
I’ve been looking at the stars for as long as I remember dreaming about what could be. For this reason, the Dream of Scipio resonated with something at the very heart of who I am and how I see the world. I always had a poster-sized picture of the Earth from space visible in my [...]
Federalism and the Last Word
Discussing federalism in class? The supremacy clause? International law? Human rights? It’s all here! Supreme Court case pits Bush against Texas over death penalty for Mexican In a case to be heard by the Supreme Court, President Bush wants to stop a Texas execution. With 152 executions carried out during his term as governor, Bush [...]
Privacy Rights in Flight
The Washington Post reported this week that the government is collecting and assembling many more details about our travel habits than previously thought. Kerryn sent the article this morning with a subject warning us Big Brother knows too much–you reading habits in flight, travel companions, itineraries, and whether you prefer a king-size bed or two [...]
