February 6, 2015 Class Update

Hey everyone-

Would you believe we only got through half of the info I wanted to discuss with you last class!

We are falling behind schedule. And to make matters trickier, Teacher Betty and I will not be in class next week! The first hour all the mentors and teachers are in training, and the second hour we are both gone on a field trip for choir.

SO....YOU WILL BE TEACHING THE CLASS! Don't worry...it will be totally easy. No sweat. I will send you each a document, and just like on the Declaration, the portion that you will read and prepare to present will be listed within the document. It will be close to one page of information. You will read/study it, then share it with the class. You will each have about 5 minutes to share/discuss what you have learned.

You can do this. You will be amazing! Maybe Diannalynn Claridge (she'll be sitting for Teacher Betty and me) will video you for us (with her phone) so we can watch later!

Sooo...look for an email from me in the next few days re: your assignment. :) Just in case anyone turns up ill, go ahead and read the whole document I send to you. That way you can help enlighten the class in more than one subject, if need be. :)

Class report from February 5th:

We discussed the establishment of the United States. We found how unique it was, as after the Revolution, the leaders took time to focus the fruits of their study of history and government to establish a more perfect union. They discussed the possible forms of government currently and previously in use in the world, analyzed their pros/cons, and analyzed many political philosophies and governmental structures, including that of Ancient Israel and the Anglo-Saxon people. 

They were well prepared and well-suited to solve the problem of establishing a more perfect government structure.

We talked about the spectrum of political power, with RULER's Law being on one end, and NO Law on the other. The founders of our nation studied and reasoned a way to find the balanced center of the continuum, putting the proper balance of power in federal, state, and local governments. They found the wisdom they needed in the examples of the Ancient Israel and Anglo-Saxon peoples.

We also discussed the dire situation in our nation immediately after the Revolution. It was critical that the founders find a way to that balanced center on the law spectrum. The nation was about to implode from unrest: unpaid soldiers, a possible coup of the congress, and others who were going to debtor's prison by the droves. The country had seemingly gone from one tyrant in King George III to another in the seemingly un-listening ears of the Continental Congress.

So....assignments:

Read and prepare to share info on your outlined assignment for next week's lecture
READ Fifty-five Fathers
Write an opinion paper on "What Powers Do You Have in Making New Laws?"
Complete Constitution Journal, Article 1, Sections 1-7
Complete any previous papers/constitution journal assignments, etc.

Also, which day works better for you for our next National Treasure Movie Night: Feb 27th or 28th? Please reply to me ASAP! I am looking forward to an awesome hangout session...and also cookies. :) Maybe some of Matthew's famous cinnamon rolls...and Teacher Betty's amazing homemade popcorn!

Have a great weekend and see you next week (for a few minutes, anyhow).  :)