“The philosophy of the schoolroom in one generation will be the philosophy of government in the next.”~ Abraham Lincoln
That quote from Lincoln was a warning for future generations. He was saying how can we expect to keep a government of, by and for the people when the people do not have the knowledge necessary to understand our constitutional foundations? I’m not talking about in depth knowledge of the founders like the turbulent relationship of John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, I’m talking the absolute necessary foundations. A major part of forming future citizens capable of self-government is ensuring that they are properly educated in our history and the founding documents of the United States of America.
The trend is frightening! Fewer than one-third of the nation’s leading universities require history majors to take a single course in U.S. history. (http://www.thecollegefix.com/post/30469) Our high schools have replaced American History with Social Studies which can include disciplines as anthropology, archaeology, economics, geography, history, jurisprudence, philosophy, political science, psychology, religion, and sociology. What emphasis does American History have in all that?
It’s time that Americans demand that their schools once again teach American history. The lack of historical knowledge of our founders and fo
unding history as well as the basic knowledge of how and why our government was formed is staggering. 64% of Americans can not name all three branches of the government.
67% of adult Americans can not correctly identify the Bill of Rights.
Only 17 percent knew the source of the phrase, “Government of the people, by the people, for the people.” and only 23 % of college seniors correctly identified James Madison as the “Father of the Constitution.
The fundamental premise of our Republic is that government is that political power derived from the informed consent of the people. Our documents were designed for self-governance based on Natural Rights and Natural Law through a Representative,Constitutional Republic. Few understand this; including some Politicians. George Washington said; “A primary object should be the education of our youth in the science of government. In a republic, what species of knowledge can be equally important? And what duty more pressing than communicating it to those who are to be the future guardians of the liberties of the country?“
Founders Keep was formed to reverse the trend of ignorance and neglect. The price of Liberty is not only eternal vigilance, but the action to preserve Liberty. The price of ignorance and neglect is far greater. The Preamble of the Constitution says our government was formed to “secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity”. How can we pass on the
knowledge of the founding, the Constitution, the Declaration Of Independence and Liberty, If we do not understand what they are?
Thomas Paine reminded us; “Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it.”