There has never been a more important time in history than now to teach your children about their rights and responsibilities as citizens of the United States. One only needs to watch the news or worse, hop on Twitter, to see how grossly misinformed or blatantly ignorant most Americans are about this very subject.
I’m not responsible for most Americans just the ones that live in my house.
While Logan listens in and joins our discussions, it is more pressing that Madison learn this to be the best advocate she can be for autistic people like Logan. This Constitutional Literacy course from Apologia will be the catalyst for her being an informed voter.
While she may not be as right leaning as the course, it’s important for her to know opposing viewpoints.
Apologia has come up with a course that approaches the Constitution through the lense of a highly conservative constitutional lawyer. The set comes with a student workbook as well as a 5 dvd set. The student reads the intro, watches the video, answer questions then discusses, with you, a Probe question or several if you so desire.
It is from a decidedly Christian worldview as is everything from Apologia. Therefore the viewpoint of the Constitution is from an obviously highly conservative angle.
This is not a bad thing in any sense of the word. Even if we don’t necessarily lean that far right it is important to know the viewpoint.
You assign one lesson per week. This schedule takes nine months to finish the entire program. It is doable with the program as written. Madison only does lessons on Friday & Saturday due to dance. She had no trouble finishing the lesson in that time frame.
I would only assign a half credit in government for the course without additions. It does give a well rounded foundation into how government should and does work as it pertains to the Constitution.
For a full credit, you would need to add more substance to it in my opinion, like living books or even games.
Constitutional Literacy by Apologia
Michael Farris is a Constitutional lawyer who is also Chancellor of Patrick Henry College as well as counsel for the Home School Legal Defense Fund. He clearly knows his law.
It is a well written course by someone who obviously is passionate about what he is talking about as it pertains to the Constitution.
He leaves no stone unturned as to why certain well known laws and Congressional or Presidential actions may or may not be Constitutional in his far right opinion.
“Prepare your students to begin their voting careers as informed citizens well versed in the content and meaning of the United States Constitution. 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.”
Apologia website
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 videos take about 20 minutes to watch in their entirety. Madison wanted more information before she answered the questions. She thought he could have elaborated more in the discussion instead of the this is the way conservatives think. Our family isn’t far right like Mr. Farris.
She struggles with perfectionist tendencies. I tell you that so you have an idea that perhaps he answers them perfectly fine but not up to her standards. She is an inquisitive person who likes to know all the opinions and angles about a situation.
We enjoyed learning about this important document. I’m embarrassed to say that I learned just as much as Madison. We had some really great discussions on those hour and half long drives to dance.
I love that homeschooling allows me to be a part of molding her into an intelligent, young lady. Apologia Constitutional Literacy certainly makes it easy to be sure she takes her job as a citizen of the United States seriously.
