As we proceed with sharing our new sneak peeks, I have to admit that I am VERY excited about this next selection for our new American History Guide. We are glad to share that we will be scheduling Michael Farris' Constitutional Literacy within our upcoming guide. Due to the nature of the course, it has the flexibility of earning a 1/2 credit up to a full credit and it has the flexibility of being used for government credit if desired. After pondering the design and nature of the course, and in looking at the best way to utilize such a course in our guide, we will schedule it as a 1/2 credit of "Constitutional Literacy" on our student's transcript (rather than using the course as a government credit). We will also be scheduling a limited selections of projects from the course, keeping the course manageable and in balance with the rest of our guide, earning 1/2 credit rather than a full credit.
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The reason for these decisions is that we feel that an overview of government is necessary to be able to more fully grasp the content within the Constitutional Literacy course. So, by doing A Noble Experiment for government alongside Constitutional Literacy, the two will dovetail well. One course will actually lead to a fuller understanding of the other course. Together, when combined with the readings about the formation of government and the Constitution in America, the courses will really enrich one another.
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For those families who already may have earned credit in government outside of HOD, Constitutional Literacy will be a wonderful extension of that learning. For families with time constraints who desire to pursue only one government course, we would suggest doing A Noble Experiment and foregoing Constitutional Literacy - as the topics in A Noble Experiment follow a more traditional government course scope and sequence (although I say this with great hesitation, as I believe both courses are simply outstanding)!
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At our house, we are excited for our own sons to not only gain a broad understanding of the various forms of government and to understand the effect of government, but we also desire for our sons to become literate about the Constitution and how laws based on Constitutional interpretation affect us in the day-to-day.
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Here is the publisher's description of the Constitutional Literacy course:
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Prepare your students to begin their voting careers as informed citizens well versed in the content and meaning of the United States Constitution. Join constitutional expert Michael Farris as he walks your family through the history, theory, and application of the Constitution and what it means for the future of American self-government. This 25-part lecture series is engaging and approachable, combining high quality video and music with hundreds of beautiful photographs, timelines, and special effects. The course features over 500 minutes of engaging video instruction by Farris, who has argued cases before the United States Supreme Court.
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Episode 1: Introduction to the Constitution
Episode 2: Article 1, Section 1
Episode 3: Judicial Review and Original Intent
Episode 4: The Powers of Congress
Episode 5: Commerce and General Welfare Clause
Episode 6: Powers of the President
Episode 7: Does the Bill of Rights Apply to the States?
Episode 8: The Establishment of Religion
Episode 9: The Free Exercise of Religion, Part 1
Episode 10: The Free Exercise of Religion, Part 2
Episode 11: Freedom of Speech and Press
Episode 12: Freedom of Association
Episode 13: The Second Amendment
Episode 14: The Fourth Amendment
Episode 15: Procedural Due Process
Episode 16: Property Rights
Episode 17: Equal Protections
Episode 18: Abortion “Rights”
Episode 19: Homosexual “Rights”
Episode 20: Parental Rights
Episode 21: International Law
Episode 22: Is the National Debt Unconstitutional?
Episode 23: Was the American Revolution an Ungodly Rebellion?
Episode 24: Was the Constitution Illegally Adopted?
Episode 25: Reclaiming Our Country
The course DVDs are now in their second edition, and with Farris partnering to add a coordinating workbook to the series the course takes on an even greater applicability for high school students. Farris edited the coordinating workbook himself for content to be sure it was accurate. See inside the workbook at the following link: http://apologia-squarespace.squarespace.com
Watch Michael Farris' Introduction: http://constitutionreclaimed.com
Watch a trailer of the series: http://constitutionreclaimed.com/OfficialTrailer.html
Watch Episode 1 (whose powerful clip of Martin Luther King, Jr. at the beginning leaves my eyes tearing up every time): http://constitutionreclaimed.com/FREEepisode.html
Blessings,
Carrie