Week 5

This week we talked about the powers of Congress (Article 1 Section 8). There is a TON of information on this topic--specifically how these powers have been distorted from their original intent--but unfortunately, we only had a short time to go over all of it! If you want to know more, I recommend doing some research on the expansion of the powers of Congress, online or by reading parts of The Making of America by Cleon Skousen. There's lots of good info out there, it just takes a little looking!

This week's assignments:

Opinion Paper: Does Congress have too much power or not enough?

Constitution Journal: Articles 3 & 4   **Tip: Try counting all the clauses you would have to journal about, then divide that by the number of days until the next class. Use that number to determine how many clauses you will work on each day. This will help you spread out the work, and keep you from getting behind. And please, please, ask your parents for help if you are struggling! I know this can be difficult work, but I also know that you are smart and hard-working enough to do it!

Keep studying for the Constitution Bowl, and start reading The Great Little Madison if you haven't yet.

See you all Thursday...and there may be TREATS for those who do their journaling!

-Mrs. Hellyer

Week 3

This week we had a great discussion about Montesquieu's 3 principles--virtue, honor and fear--that are required for the success of the 3 forms of government--Republican, Monarchial and Despotic. We also learned that when men cease to be virtuous in our own government we see the usurpation of legislative power by the branches (executive and judicial) that were never intended to have it.

Upcoming assignments:

• This week's opinion paper is: Is it better to have a man of faith in office with a minimal education, or a man of knowledge with minimal faith and questionable character?

• Your Constitution journal assignment this week is: Article 1, Sections 6-10 (**Remember that this optional assignment comes with a special field trip reward!)

• Our next book discussion will be February 25th, on Fifty-Five Fathers by Selma R. Williams.

Don't forget to work on your Award requirements...we know you have a lot to do, but we really want to see you all earn your ribbons! Just think of how much more informed you'll be about the history of our nation's founding than most kids your age by the time this class is finished! In fact, you'll know more than most Americans! Yes, that's sad, but true; but you all are the ones who will be able to preserve and protect this nation for the next generation!

Here's a link to the Article 5 Project that we talked about in class--the "safety net" for the states, built into the Constitution for when the federal government gets carried away:

http://www.conventionofstates.com/

Please read through the website and watch the videos...they're very interesting and informative (and they give you a little hope that we really CAN restore the Constitution to what our founders intended it to be).

Keep up the good work studying that CB study guide, because we'll have a quiz or practice each week. There may even be candy involved!

Carry on, scholars!

-Mrs. Hellyer

Week 2

I hope you all had fun doing the sovereignty simulation in class, and thank you to Teacher Isabelle for putting it all together! It was very interesting to see your different personalities emerge in this mock "stressful" situation. Who knew that the usually calm, quiet Tillie would want to be president, or should I say...dictator? Hmmmm...

A few reminders:

• If you haven't already, select a person about whom to research for your Hero Report by this Thursday (2/11), and get your selection approved by myself or Teacher Isabelle. The person must be someone who has promoted the principles of freedom and liberty, and NOT be George Washington or John Adams. That's it. There are like a million+ people who fit those criteria! The actual reports are not due until April 14th, but this will give you time to get some research done early.

• Opinion paper this week: Write a debrief on the simulation. What did you learn about the founders? What did you learn about yourself? How are you going to change because of the simulation?

• Keep working on your Constitution journals. We're still working on the preamble and Article 1, Sections 1-5. If you have questions or need help, please ask! (Trust me: someday, you'll thank us for pushing you to do it!) *Also, if you do all your journaling, there will be a special field trip to the capital (or possibly a museum--we'll talk it over in class)--for those who complete the requirement--involving ice cream!

I think that's it...if I forgot anything, let me know! Thanks guys, for being good, hard-working kids: it makes teaching this class fun for us!

-Mrs. Hellyer