Constitutional Education in High School should be required.

I have sent emails to candidates in two states [OK, and TX] recommending that the Constitution be a 1 semester required course for all 10-th or 11-th graders. I recommended that 15 weeks be spent on the Constitution, the Amendments, the Federalist papers and the founders and 3 weeks on case law. I believe that case law would have to be included to have a prayer of passing such a law. If case law were excluded, all progressives and many non-thinking centrists would simply line up against the proposed law and it would be defeated. Even the US Senate probes the support for "stare decisis" in judicial candidates and they always say they support it.

I am no lawyer but. I have a very strong belief in "original intent". Without elevating original intent to the paramount interpretation mechanism, a law written today would, by the following morning, have a different meaning [e.g. "to regulate commence ... among the several states" -- would today's interpretations of the "commerce clause" surprise our founders?] There would be no way for the legislature of today to communicate the meaning of a law tomorrow. We would not be a nation of laws, but a nation of feelings. Almost all agree that the "rule of law" is required to have a civil and peaceful society, yet, without "original intent" as the interpretive scheme, the "rule of law" becomes murky and subject to political interpretations. Eventually, the civil society will break down because the laws don't communicate anything to those who must obey them and those who must enforce them.

What would be useful would be to draft a letter, possibly here on this forum, and send it to legislators in all 50 states, DC, Guam, American Samoa and Puerto Rico. The goal would be, over time, to have all states and territories have a requirement for education about the Federal Constitution.

If such education had happened when we grew up, we wouldn't be creating groups like this. If such a movement has success, maybe the need for this group would vanish. I'm not sure in which grade such a course should be offered, nor am I smart enough to know that 15 weeks versus 3 is the right division [they reflect my best guess at what might pass as a law]. I do know that without universal Constitutional Education, we will drift farther and farther from what we all know to be right.

To make this proposal credible, well known educators and Constitutional scholars should publicly support it. I don't know any of those, but am willing to work on this project.

Idea and comments, anyone?

0 members like this

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by C Entin on February 9, 2010 at 6:08am

terrific idea & we would be in better shape today if our citizens really knew and understood history.
since 1 of our powerful tools today is the internet, we might start to pass this idea along.
thanks for posting your idea !

Permalink Reply by Charlie on February 9, 2010 at 6:53am

Of course, studying the Constitution is essential to history & civics education. But whom do you trust to teach it? The progressive teachers in our public schools? They're far more likely to present the Howard Zinn perspective than the James Madison one.

You're correct to target state legislatures, however, as the federal government has no delegated authority governing public or private education.

Permalink Reply by Phil on February 9, 2010 at 10:55am

That's why we should abolish the dept.of education.
With the money we save from that we could buy up our dollars on the stock market and burn them. The dollar will go back to it's former prestige.
We could throw the U.N.out and buy our dept back with that money also. I remember history in elementary. It all started going down since the inception of the union and the Dept.of education. I remember. I am of the in between age where I know both countries. They used to teach character too,Can't have any of that either. The WHOLE class said the pledge of allegiance and didn't think twice about it. It is just as important to take back our schools as it is to throw out the progressives on both sides. Our schools are creating progressives and not free minds that think alone. They teach collectively now. PAY ATTENTION TO YOUR LOCAL SCHOOLS!!!!

Permalink Reply by Publius Huldah on February 9, 2010 at 11:05am

And dismantle the government schools as well - they can't be fixed. Besides, no one has the "right" to be educated at the expense of others. See: http://publiushuldah.wordpress.com/2009/10/11/is-medical-care-a-right/

But, as an interim measure, before we restore Liberty to this land, I suggest we work in our respective States for the abolishment of ALL government schools and the establishment of a voucher system where parents can choose the private school of their choice for their children.

And Oh, yeah: See if your State Constitution permits your State Legislature to outlaw teachers' unions.

Permalink Reply by Phil on February 10, 2010 at 2:12pm

Really? My State?

Permalink Reply by Publius Huldah on February 10, 2010 at 2:47pm

It was addressed to everyone! I just put it as a "reply" to you because of your (true) statement that we should abolish the federal dept. of education. "Education" is not one of the enumerated powers of Congress.

Permalink Reply by Gail on February 9, 2010 at 7:20am

I have long thought this would counter the propaganda of the left. The problem is to get it into our schools.

Permalink Reply by Brimstone on February 9, 2010 at 7:32am

Charlie is correct. You can't trust anyone with an Ed. degree. They are not educated they are indoctrinated.

Permalink Reply by Phil Hoffman on February 9, 2010 at 7:44am

I fully agree with the inclusion of a Constitutional study Coarse . However this coarse, when properly taught using strict constraints of the use of the Federalist Papers and the use of the proper dictionary, would take more than 1 semester. The Declaration of independence would also need to be included.

I agree that case law be included,but only to support the evidence of how the courts and legislature have distorted the true meaning of the Constitution.

The one thing I am totally in disagreement is the fact that you have to appease the libs and centrists. This is where we get into trouble. We must be firm on the original intent. I'm tired of caving in to those who would pervert the founding documents.

As far as using well known scholars! ! ! Does that mean we would have to use Obama, a well known Constitutional (alleged) scholar. WHOS' CONSTITUTION ???

Permalink Reply by Land Shark aka Bob E on February 9, 2010 at 8:22am

Agree whole-heartedly with Phil. Change will be effected best, and most effectively, at the local level to start with. I know it would be nice to wave a wand, but this has current situation has been in the making for a long, long time. Those dedicated persons that get elected to school boards is an excellent start. Starting locally, school boards, local precincts, etc., is a long hard slow moving process, but. in the meantime, how about forming home study groups for interested students? Starting study groups within the local tea parties? Advertise in the local papers. If one student takes you up on it, just one, the door will have been opened. Each one of us have the capacity to do that. We certainly have all the raw material at this website to do just that. Teaching the Constitution ourselves is the way to not leave it up to someone else to distort it.

Permalink Reply by Ed Bradford on February 9, 2010 at 8:37am

Two issues.
1. RE "appease" the libs and progressives. If we propose a law that says no case law is included in the course, it wouldn't pass. That is the observation -- not that case law would distort. Remember, the only way a judge has to interpret areas of law that are not clearly written is to listen to what other judges have ruled.

2. An unprincipled person would suggest using the Federal government to force schools to teach constitutional law or forgo educational funds. That's a tough choice. That would be "the end justifies the means". I don't like that, but they already have my money, so what do I do with a thief? Do you make him conform to his own rules? Personally, I'll stick with the state legislative approach, but the other sure looks attractive -- come Jan, 2011.

3. Anotherl observation. My thinking is the constitutional 15 weeks would be eye opening for educators also. I believe they have for the most part never read the constitution. To teach such a course, they would have to read it and study the very material they would be teaching. While not all of them would convert, many would. They would see what their own education lacked -- they would be converts of the most enthusiastic kind. [Pardon me, I'm eternally optimistic when it comes to Americans.]

Permalink Reply by Steven Laib on February 10, 2010 at 1:44pm

Absolutely! the curriculum and the instructor are of vital importance.

As one with a law license, I'm profoundly aware of what would happen if the classes were taught by "living document" advocates who would put case law in front of the students supporting that approach to this important subject.

This type of education could be a two edged sword.

‹ Previous
1
2
3
Next ›