"...just plain, honest men."

Today was Federalist versus Anti-Federalist which mean James Madison! Dr. Lloyd pointed out that Jay, Hamilton and Madison spoke with one voice as Publius so I shold acknowledge that the other two were there as well. One of the things I walked away with today was more respect for the Anti-Federalists and more awareness of the brilliance of the Federalist argument. In my reverence however, Dr. Lloyd offers caution. In the day, the Federalist leadership were seen in their camps as demi-gods and in the opposition camp as demi-demons. Governour Morris suggests they were neither but "just plain honest men". The question I've been playing with for part of the day is, "who is this generation's 'plain honest people." What leader is thinking beyond winning to governing? What leader is interested in elevating the conversation to what is best for the republic rather than what is best for this or that party or interest group. I would say something about faction (Federalist 10) but I am still wrestling with when an interest group become as faction. Madison has some clear thought on factions and their oppressiveness and I'm still processing on what might mean for us today.

Some photos from today:

Liberty Bell--as seen in National Treasure (Independence Hall is in the background)

Liberty Bell-the other side

Second National Bank-the one closed down by President Jackson during the Bank Wars

Some pictures from the day ...

James Madison

George Washington 

Robert Morris



 Ben Franklin

A memorial listing Washington's enslaved servants while they lived in Philadelphia



Dolley Payne Todd's house

Big Arnold on your bike...

We are still wresting with the Declaration and now the Constitution. One of the questions today was, does the 'all' in 'all men are created equal' mean all or just white property owning males? What did the framers mean? What did Jefferson himself mean. In great Socratic form, Dr. Morel led us through the Declaration as well as supporting documents in our exploration of "all". We ended by returning to the Declaration but this time the draft by Jefferson. The simple answer is, "all does mean all". Jefferson is more than aware of the contridiction as a slaveholder but all mean all. Slaves, women, children, ... all. To support this point, he introduced us to Big Arnold. You've bought a new bike. You love the bike but you forget to lock it one day. You come outside to see Big Arnold on the bike. You want the bike and youtry to get the bike but he is BIG Arnold. So the question is: is the bike still yours?
The picture is from our tour of the National Constitution Center. It's me and my BFF, James Madison:

"What is truth...?"

We hold these truths to be self-evident ...Tonight's session wrestled with truth. Dr Lucas Morel from Washington and Lee Universtiy pointed out the thread found in the Declaration of Independence, Gettysburg Address and I Have a Dream speech. Equality. Equality begins as a self-evident truth for TJ. It morphs into a proposition for Lincoln and again shapeshifts to a creed for Dr. King. That is the thesis the Presidential Academy is built on.
Tonight began our exploration of self-evident truth. We will be spending several days with this theme so I won't say much tonight.
I do want to point out that these folks, both the leadership and my fellow participants are way beyond intellegent. Wow. Their questions and insights were impressive. Class of 2015, remember the discussion we had with the Supreme Court cases (Tinker v.Des Moines or NJ v. In Re Gualt)? We read the material, wrestling with the laws involved and then discussed like the Supreme Court does. Do you remember the discussions? The discussion tonight were just that intense and these folks know their founding documents. As a teacher it was cool to watch Dr. Morel manage teacher chaos.
More about self-evident truths tomorrow.

Independence Hall after dark.

The tower is actually covered in scaffolding with a painted mesh in front of it.

In Philly!

Arrived in Philadelphia this afternoon and am all settled. Ready for dinner. Actually flew the first leg of my flight on the same plane as one of our freshman on his way to Myrtle Beach. There is an introductory dinner tonight and the first session. The focus for Philly is the Declaration of Independence. The guiding questions tonight are: what does the Declaration say (and not say); what does it mean (and not mean) as well as the differences between Jefferson's original draft and the signed version. We are a block from Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell and in the heart of the historic district, so when I finished 'nerding' it up, I'll go get some photos.

12 hours and counting ... "I can't stand it!"

All that is left is the final bit of packing and I'm like a kid at Christmas. Hurry up...

The video I'm adding is one I use with my kids when we talk about the Declaration as a 'break up letter'. At the end of the video, check out the Ben Franklin as Sid Vicious (student: google it). I think it captures the  essence of Franklin. If anyone was a rock star in the middle of the 18th Century, it was Benjamin Franklin.

24 hours and counting...!

Its been a while since I've posted but, beyond the reading for the Presidential Academy, moving classrooms and driving boys to classes, scouts, swimming, library, church, Orange Leaf, ... well, you get the idea.
Last night we dropped Spencer off for his mission trip and this morning Maggie and Max left for their scout trip. Its my 'free day' and I decided to go work in my new classroom before I head out to, hopefully, meet up with older kids and finish packing.
As I pack up books to for my trek east, I've been wrestling with some of the reading. A week after the Fourth of July, I'll be in the building in which it was debated. I wish I could describe how excited I am for that.
About ten days ago, I watched a movie discussed in one of the books and I can't get it out of my mind. Its titled, CSA:Confederate States of America. It is a 'mockumentary' by an African American professor from KU with the premise: what if the South had won? It is one of the most unflinching movies I've watched in a long time. It is funny and offensive and thought-provoking all at the same time and it has been one of the voices in my head as I've finished my readings. I found the movie trailer for it on youtube and want to link it but I'm worried that people will see it and misunderstand. Today, I'm letting discretion be the better part of valor (read that as cowardly)-I'm might link it later in my travels.

We always suspected Lincoln was both a skater and a vampire killer!

This is a photo of the statue on top of the Kansas Statehouse! I wanted to give a little to the state I'll be away from for the next month. I am proud to be both a Wichitan and Kansan.

(I didn't take this one, my skills as a photographer do not extend that far, but I love this picture ... when I figure who took it, I will properly credit them.)