Day Twenty Seven - A Thank You...

Last night's Closing Banquet was filled with thank yous to all of our professors, the Madison staff, and all of those responsible for making the Summer Institute.  I would like to echo all of those sentiments to everyone.

But I want to give a special thank you to all of the teachers here.  Too often I go to professional development and, while I gain valuable resources, I never walk away feeling like a better teacher from what I learned.  After this four weeks, I walk away with that feeling, and that is due to all of you who helped to challenge me, offer tips and advice that is successful in your class, and general encouragement overall.  Each and everyone here has contributed to making me a better educator and scholar.  I feel like my future students are not going to have one teacher who is better for having gone through this, they are going to have almost 60 teachers who will contribute to their education.

I wish you all godspeed in your travels, and enjoy the next few days of absolute boredom.  I hope that we will all stay in touch, and if there is anything I can ever do to help you, do not hesitate to ask.  If you are ever in the middle of North Carolina, let me know!

Thank you again!  You all deserve (and are getting) a standing ovation from me.

Day Twenty Six - We Made It...

50 some Fellows turned in their final papers today, and breathed a collective sigh of relief.  For me, the feeling though was different than the first paper.  I first thought that it was because I knew I was done, that "the hay is in the barn" and that the paper I turned in was my best effort, it would secure my grade, and if nothing else, with turning in this paper "I was dancing with the one that brung me".

But as I have reflected on the day, and after our afternoon session in which we discussed Dr. Belz's outlook on what this Fellowship should be, I think differently.  When we mentioned the desire to have more sessions helping us to take this wealth of knowledge and incorporate it in our classrooms, Dr. Morrison said that Dr. Belz believes that by our being here, we are among the best Social Studies teachers in the country, and that we can figure out how to incorporate it ourselves.  He wants us to be immersed in scholarly discussion and debate while we are here for our personal knowledge.  Lew Larsen (the President of the Foundation), echoed the same sentiment to me tonight.

So I think the sense I felt when I turned in my paper was not relief, but instead a sense of accomplishment.  I was thoroughly challenged for the last month, and I made it.  I was put through an intensive study that has been more difficult than any class I have taken EVER, and I walked out the end a better educator and scholar.

I told my wife that I am leaving here inspired.  I have this desire for more scholarship, evidenced by my list of 30 or so books that I want to get and read.  I also mentioned that I feel like one day continuing my education to get a PhD.  I could hear it in her voice, "how much in student loans would that cost?".  The realist in me knows that there are other more important goals in my life currently (finishing my Masters, starting a family, etc.) to do this right now.

But it is important for all of us to keep that scholarly desire kindled.  We cannot, for our sake and the sake of the Foundation's charge to us, let this fire die out.  We owe it to our students and our colleagues to share what we have learned.

I am taking this personally, and I hope that each and every one of us do too.

MEET THE FELLOWS: Danielle Gurnea is from New Mexico.  While she seems quiet and reserved, she was probably the most social of us.  While everyone here was welcoming and friendly, I think she hung out with more people over the course of the Institute than anyone.  And anytime someone posted on Facebook, she was always the first, or among the first to "Like" the comment.  It has been enjoyable to get to know her!

TOMORROW: We all pack into planes or cars to return to our normal life!

Day Twenty Five - Back into Downtown

When I was a senior in high school, I was too much of an A-nerd to be highly affected by senioritis.  That year, our school changed the policy to say that all seniors had to take all exams, with the exception of AP classes.  So I worked fairly hard all the way to the end.  So today, I got a real taste of senioritis.  The lecture and discussions were good, and not to take anything away from the professors, but since my paper was done, and today's topic had no bearing on what I was writing, I found it extremely hard to stay focused.  A small part of me feels guilty, but on the other hand, it feels good to not worry about it.

This afternoon was what I was really looking forward to.  After talking to the office of my Congressman last week, it didn't look like it was going to work out to meet him based on our schedules.  But on Monday, I got an unexpected call from his office, and it worked out that I would have a chance.  So this afternoon, I headed towards Capitol Hill to his office.  I left in plenty of time to take care of a couple of other items on my checklist: get a picture of the Supreme Court chambers and stop by the Library of Congress to get my official Library library card (yes, I am that big of a nerd, don't judge me).  As I walked towards the Longworth House Office Building, I am 98% sure I walked by Congressman Paul Ryan.  I wish I would have stopped him for a minute, not because of his politics, but how many chances do you get to meet someone who is well known on a national stage.  I made it to Congressman Kissell's office a little early, and one of his staffers met me there.  The Congressman was in an Agriculture Committee bill mark-up meeting.  They were going through 99 amendments on the bill, but he took a couple of minutes to step outside and speak to me.  He had visited our school in May, but I didn't get a chance to speak with him there.  He is a former teacher, and in fact, when he was elected, his position was filled by one of my co-workers, Jessica Sullivan.  How often do you get to say that you know someone who took a Congressman's job?

There are stats out there that show Congress's approval rating at all-time lows.  However, there is also data that shows most people like their individual Senators and Representatives.  The two numbers, when put together are staggering, something like 75% for their individual representatives, but 12% as a whole.  I can now understand that juxtaposition.  When we think of Congress as an entire body, we are oftentimes unhappy with their work.  But unless things are bad in your own district, you tend to think your own leader is doing well.  When you meet the person, you realize that they are a person doing what they think is best for you.  Yes, they may be putting on a politician's face in order to keep or win your vote, but it changes what you think of them as a person.

After the meeting, I left Longworth, and decided to check a couple other things off the list.  On my way out though, I saw Congressman Barney Frank walking towards the building.  Again, I should have taken a second to introduce myself, but didn't take that step.  I got back to the Metro, and stopped at the Smithsonian stop to see the monuments.  However, in my suit and dress shoes, I didn't feel like hoofing it all the way to Lincoln, so I was satisfied with taking a couple of pictures of the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial in the distance.  I hopped back on the Metro to the White House, and took a couple of pictures there as well before heading back to Rosslyn.

In short (I know, too late right), I did a few days worth of touristy stuff in the span of about 3 hours.

MEET THE FELLOWS: Christoph Brown is officially listed as a Fellow from California.  However, since he has lived longer in Greenville, SC, we still claim him as a southerner.  Besides, he still wears more Clemson University clothing than anything California related.  He and I share a common bond- we both have a wife that is smarter than us.  I know that many of the guys here would probably say the same thing (at least in earshot of the wife), but we have proof.  My wife holds a MS in Mathematical Finance (which still boggles my mind to think of what it is about), and his wife is working on her PhD as he is finishing his Masters.

TOMORROW: Our last official day of classes, then the banquet tomorrow night!

Day Twenty Four - Or Three Days Until the End of the Institute

With three days until the end of the Institute, or two days until our final paper is due, most of us are in finalizing mode: either our papers are done or one good read away from it.  It is a satisfying relief, probably more so than after turning in the first paper, because we know that we are done for good.  It is however, leading to the realization that we are almost done for good.  While we are ready to be home, I believe that we all value what we have here, and I know that I personally will miss the intellectual immersion that I have experienced here at Georgetown.

But before we go, we had our last trip today.  For the first time, the Foundation took the Fellows to the US Federal Court in Washington DC.  In this trip, we met with the Administrative Office and their representatives who specialize in teacher trainings.  In today's session, we learned strategies for doing mock trials with our students, and got a lot of resources from the Federal Courts.  But the highlight was that several of us got to participate in a mock trial.  We went to the attorney's tables, and went through the facts and the scripts they provided.  We got to present before a federal court judge, Chief Judge Royce Lamberth (and by Chief, I mean head judge of the District Court that serves DC), and then respond to his rapid fire questions.  I don't think I am the only one that felt intimidated, but we all did a great job.  Kudos to Steph, May, Christopher and Pete for their victory, and a valiant effort to Bill, Stu, and Jennifer for their efforts!

After the trial, Judge Lamberth took some questions from us.  He talked about the Clemens trial (of which he did not preside over, but ate lunch with the judge that did) and how they handle jurors who fall asleep.  But the greatest story for me was about a case that he oversaw that shows how our court system works.  Here is his story:

A couple of years ago, President Obama's White House changed the rules regarding using stem cells for research purposes.  However, Congress had passed a law that said you cannot conduct research that would kill an embryo.  This seemed to be a clear violation of the law.  However, the two men that brought the lawsuit against the administration did so because under Congress's law, they had a better shot of competing for grants and getting money.  Judge Lamberth heard the arguments, but dismissed the case because according to the law, you must show that you were injured in order to bring a suit.  There was no proof that the two men were injured, because they may or may not have won a grant anyway, therefore the case was thrown out.  The men appealed to the Appeals Court, which overturned Judge Lamberth saying that the competition for money was sufficient to prove standing.  So he reheard the case.  This time he ruled in favor of the two men, because the administration's actions violated the law.  The government appealed the case.  The Appeals Court ruled that the law in question was ambiguous, and that in a case of ambiguity, one must side with the executive.  So the case was brought back to his court room for a third time.  This time he ruled in favor of the government, and the case is being appealed once again.  He said that he hopes they don't overturn him a third time, otherwise they are back to square one.

Now, many of you reading this will think that this is a waste of government time and resources, and the answer seems clear.  But I look at this and am comforted to know that these attorneys and judges are some of the best at their jobs, and they put a lot of time and energy into these cases in order to ensure that the laws are applied and ruled fairly.

This was definitely something I can implement in my class this year.

MEET THE FELLOWS: May Wong is our fellow from Washington state (I get a kick out of hearing "state" every time she introduces herself, but I understand that while in DC, she has to differentiate).  She is one of the funniest Fellows here, as she often reminds us ("I'm the funny one").  Her quick wit and great sense of humor has had us rolling with laughter.  But before you think of her as soft, she is quick to step up and defend one of us.  On the night of Fireworks, I was standing in a spot where I could see.  About that time, a guy walked up and stood right in front of me.  While I was in shock at the nerve of the guy, May jumped in and pointed out his indiscretion.  As it turns out, he was trying to signal someone a floor below us, and he quickly moved out of the way.  However, if his intent was to stand in front of me, I think May made him think differently.  Thanks May!!

TOMORROW: Class, and then I get an opportunity to meet my Congressman, and maybe get a Gallery Pass to watch the House of Representatives in action.

Day Twenty Three - Another Trip with Dr. Smith

We took our second optional bus tour today with Dr. Ed Smith of American University.  The man knows so much about the DC area and the history of it.  Today's tour was a bus tour of the African American influence  of Washington, a tour that I have heard was one of the highlights of the Institute.  This tour was by no means comprehensive; some parts of it were driving by a historical site, or walking around it, or even just mentioning it.  We got our appetite whetted today; when I am back in DC, I plan to visit these sites again.

On the way to our first site, Frederick Douglass's home, Dr. Smith told us some things about Douglass to frame the trip.  Douglass was a former slave that became one of American history's biggest abolitionists.  In 1852, he gave a speech titled "What to the Slave is the 4th of July?"  In this speech, though not mentioning his name, he struck at Thomas Jefferson for the hypocrisy of Jefferson writing "all men are created equal" and yet owning slaves himself.  However, years later, while sitting at church, he had an epiphany.  He looked at the crucifix hanging on the wall, and realized that he couldn't be a Christian that believes in forgiveness and maintain his hate of Jefferson.  He knew that he had to forgive Jefferson.  He picked up a copy of Jefferson's Notes on the State of Virginia, and after reading the essay titled "Manners" he discovered that Jefferson knew he was wrong in practicing slavery and repented.  It as at this point that Douglass forgave Jefferson, and adopted him as a father figure.  His home, Cedar Hill, is the closest thing that African Americans have to a Monticello (according to Dr. Smith).

Cedar Hill was built because Douglass knew that great men needed a great house in which to conduct their business affairs.  This was a time of no office buildings, and most of the great leaders spent much of their time at home writing and reading their great works.  It was here, especially in his Growlery, that Douglass spent time in solitude reading and writing his contributions.

Our second stop was supposed to be Lincoln Park, and the first Lincoln Memorial.  This statue was dedicated by Douglass in 1876.  Douglass and Lincoln had such a great partnership that developed into a friendship and a need for one another to accomplish their goals of keeping the Union together.  There is also a statue of Mary McLeod Bethune there as well (more about her later).  However, due to time constraints, and a surprise addition, we bypassed the park.

Our next stop was Howard University.  The university was created by the federal government, and to this day is owned by the federal government.  It was named for General Oliver Otis Howard, who was known for his success in the western front of the Civil War, as well as being in charge of the Freedman's Bureau following the war.  His house is there, on the Historic Register, and it was on his porch that he and Douglass would sit and talk.  Howard was once known as the "Black Harvard" because in the time before affirmative action, when quotas dictated the number of students that went to other colleges, most of the top African American students went to Howard.  On graduation day of 1965, that changed.  President Lyndon Johnson stood in the quad, addressing the graduating class, and for the first time, used the phrase "affirmative action". According to Dr. Smith (who was there with his wife who was graduating from Howard), this policy damaged Howard University because more opportunities were opened to other colleges, and those top students no longer stayed at Howard.  The campus is beautiful, highlighted by the library, which is modeled after Independence Hall in Philadelphia.

Our next stop was past the house of Mary McLeod Bethune, an African American educator who founded the school that later became known as Bethune-Cookman.  She was also an adviser to Eleanor Roosevelt.

The final stop was to the Cathedral of Saint Matthew.  Saint Matthew spent part of his ministry preaching in Ethiopia.  The baptistery here features a depiction of Matthew baptizing an Ethiopian.  So how appropriate that a cathedral for Saint Matthew is found in the greatest concentration of African Americans following the Civil War.  The Cathedral is most famous for a couple of services.  First, it was the church in which John F. Kennedy's funeral was held before his body was taken to Arlington National Cemetery.  

The second service is known as Red Mass.  It takes place on the first Sunday of October, the day before the new term of the Supreme Court commences.  All of the Supreme Court Justices attend, and sit on the front row.  The service is also attended by many politicians and religious leaders.  Following the homily, the priest walks to the front row, and offers his arm to the Chief Justice.  The Chief Justice walks down the aisle of the church and out the front door arm-in-arm with the priest.  Many wonder why this happens, after all, there is supposed to be a separation of church and state.  This act shows that you cannot totally separate the influence of religion from politics completely.

Listening to Dr. Smith talk about the changes in DC during his life was eye-opening.  He understands that the story of African Americans from slavery to disenfranchised citizens to fully integrated members of the American society is a historical event that needs to be understood by all.  He had some very thought-provoking observations and commentary to add.  I hesitate to write more here, simply because I wouldn't want to misconstrue what he means, and skew people's view of him.  If you ever have a chance to hear him speak, take full advantage of it.

MEET THE FELLOWS: Christopher Carl is our Fellow from Florida.  I see Christopher as the sage of our group.  He is fun to talk to, and can offer a tremendous insight to any discussion.  He is a measured speaker, but you know that when he speaks in a discussion group or lecture, what he has to say will be thoughtful, if not thought-provoking.  He has been a great guy to get to know over these last few weeks.

TOMORROW: A trip to the Federal Courthouse is on our agenda.  Supposedly there is supposed to be a mock trial presented.  This is the first time the Foundation has done this, so we are excited to see how it turns out!

Day Twenty Two - Heat and Paper: A Dangerous Combination

Because of the temperature still being near triple digits, I decided not to venture out again today.  The good news is that the paper is continuing to build.  The bad news is that between writing the paper and sitting in the room, I feel a little stir crazy.  But it's okay, because the next few days will be busy enough to make up for it.

With that being said, there is nothing new to report.

I do want to say that in this last week, we are ready to get back to our spouses, kids, families, pets, cars, couches, beds, etc., etc.  Over the time here we have had several people who had birthdays and anniversaries, and most of us have missed at least one major event in the lives of our friends and families.  So again, a big thank you to all of those important people in our lives who have supported us in this opportunity. To all of the spouses who have handled things at home in our absence, to all of the children who have understood their mom or dad being away for the month, to all of those who have stepped in and took our place in the different obligations, and to everyone who in every way supported us in whatever way, THANKS!

MEET THE FELLOWS: Sara Banyai is from North Dakota.  She is the Social Studies Department at her school.  She teaches 7 different classes (and I worry if I have 3 preps).  She shared something about her state with me that I find quite intriguing.  In North Dakota, the state legislature meets for 3 months or so once every two years.  In this time, any and all laws that need to be debated and voted on has to get done.  Imagine that, a legislature working with a purpose and with expediency.

TOMORROW: We are taking a second trip with Dr. Ed Smith.  This trip will highlight the African American influence in DC.  We will be visiting Frederick Douglass' home, the Mary McLoud Bethune Council House, and Lincoln Park.  In speaking with past Fellows, this has been one of the biggest highlights in this whole exciting experience.

Day Twenty One - Paper Number Two

They say that the heat makes you do crazy things.  In the case of today, the heat caused most of us to stay inside on our last Saturday in DC and work on our papers (I know, working ahead, how ludicrous).  But in all honesty, for me, this is the best I have ever felt about a paper this far in advance.  Usually I am cramming last minute to finish up.  But I feel a sense of determination to do well on this paper, partly because I am a bit of an A-nerd, and partly because this paper is kind of a symbol of the culmination of the Institute.  When we turn it in on Thursday, we have that day's classes, the evening's banquet, and then packing to leave on Friday.  Don't worry, I'm not going to fill this post with sentimentality (is that a word? If not, dibs!).  There will be plenty of time later this week for that.

When I came here three weeks ago, I was under the mindset that I am going to enjoy the experience and not focus so hard on the grades that I miss out on everything else.  Besides, as long as I make at least a B, the credits will transfer, and for Virginia Tech (where I am studying), the grades don't transfer in.  But over the last three weeks, it seems that the level of intellect and discourse has really challenged me to want to do better and has created a thirst for knowledge that won't let me just do average.  I want an A at the end of this Institute because it will be a personal accomplishment, even if it means nothing for my GPA.  At the end of week two, in our last pedagogical session, Claire Griffin talked about where we go from here.  Everyone of us is in a different situation as to what continuing education we can do or what new experiences we can apply for.  But each of us can take this experience in intellectualism and continue pushing ourselves to become better historians and teachers.

The highlight of today for me: sitting in the AC and getting laundry done.

PS - I don't know if other colleges nickel-and-dime their students nowadays, but I feel like Georgetown is trying.  I wanted to add $2 to my ID card so that I could have enough for two more loads of laundry.  But online, the minimum amount to deposit is $10.  So I decided to go to the machine in the cafeteria to do so, but the minimum there is $5.  I know I can spend it elsewhere too, but I only want enough to finish laundry for the week.  Oh well, I guess I'll do laundry again midweek to insure I have enough clean clothes for next weekend.

MEET THE FELLOWS: Steve Byers is our Fellow from Dover, Delaware.  He has been our Facebook scribe.  Every time Dr. Belz says something that makes us scratch our head, Steve documents it for posterity on his Facebook page.  Among my favorites (thanks Steve for transcribing for us):

-"He was an open unionist, not a closet nullificationist." Dr. Belz on James Madison and the Virginia Resolutions
-Justice Ginsburg was asked today why she thinks the Supreme Court generally has a higher approval rating compared to the other two branches. Her response..."we have to give a reason for what we do."
-"Mitt Romney is a post modernist. He's waiting for someone to tell him what is real." -Dr. Belz , July 5, 2012
-"Authority doesn't grow on trees" -Dr. Herman Belz

TOMORROW: More paper-writing, and hopefully the last day of heat for a while.

Day Twenty - Maury Povich

Today, on Maury Povich, paternity suits and answering the question, who's your daddy?...

Okay, so I don't watch Maury, but from what I hear about it, every other episode is figuring out which of the two dead-beats is the father.  And it always turns out that it's the one that the mother doesn't want involved in the kid's life.  

So, I am exaggerating one of the minor points of today's topic, in our morning lecture, our discussion session, and then at the afternoon James Madison Symposium.  We talked about the Bill of Rights and Madison's motivation for writing them, especially after he opposed the idea.  While his political reasoning and what we should do with the knowledge and evidence can be debated (and it was debated vigorously), what stood out goes back to my original reference.  Can we truly call James Madison the "father" of the Bill of Rights?

Dr. Dreisbach told us that one time he had family in town and he wound up serving as their tour guide.  They went first to Montpelier, where a video proclaimed him as the father of the Bill of Rights, as he formulated the text that serves as the basis of them from 200 proposals from the states.  The next day they went to Gunston Hall, home of George Mason.  There a video proclaimed him as the father of the Bill of Rights, as he authored the Virginia Declaration of Rights, a document that influenced the US Bill of Rights.  The following day, they went to Red Hill, the final home and current museum of Patrick Henry.  The introductory video proclaimed him (you guessed it) the father of the Bill of Rights, because as the leading "Anti-Federalist" (if you want to know why I put the quotes there, ask me or another Fellow for a better explanation), he led the charge for a Bill of Rights and eventually one was created and ratified.  So the question remains, who is the true father?

I think we are all in agreement that because Madison wrote the text after poring over the proposals, the Bill of Rights has more of his historical DNA than others, but it raised a counterfactual - if Madison did not decide to write the document, would it have been written, and if so, by whom?  How much different would this document, one that it was argued was hastily written due to other pressing needs in 1789, and has become the most recognizable (dare I say, to use Dr. Dreisbach's word, mythological) part of the Constitution, be under different circumstances.  Few historians like to play the what-if game, but we pondered over this question to try to understand what the Federalists and Anti-Federalists would have done in such a circumstance.

The biggest struggle I walked away with today came not on the material itself.  I am torn over what to do with this information that I have absorbed not only today, but this whole Institute.  The historian in me feels guilty for glossing over it when I go back to my high school to teach, but the realist in me knows that I can't spend a long time on it either.  I posed that question to Tiffany Rhodes, the 2010 Fellow from NC.  She said that the best she has found is to be more thoughtful in our approach to the material and present the information through debates or activities to allow the students to experience and learn the other point of views that our curriculum doesn't highlight.  With that, I feel much better about how I will approach next year's planning guides (at least until I actually sit down to figure out what I can do).

MEET THE FELLOWS: Dennis Bullock is from Burbank, California, right outside of LA.  He is gaining a reputation for his build, as he has won the unofficial award for biggest biceps.  One of the coolest things about him though is that he served for a while as the Voice of the Trojans (USC), and if you do actually get to hear his announcer's voice, he is quite good.

TOMORROW: Tomorrow is supposed to be 105 degrees, before factoring in the heat index.  I think the two plans for most of us is either the pool or staying inside and working on the paper.  We can't wait for the mid-80s next week.

Day Nineteen - Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg

What a great day today. The morning started with a great lecture, particularly about the Federalists' ideas of human nature and how to deal with it (spoiler alert- they fell towards John Calvin and Thomas Hobbes, not big fans of the potential of humans). As a philosophy major, it was discussions like this that I thoroughly enjoy.

But the highlight of the day was our visit to the Supreme Court and a meeting with Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. We were instructed ahead of time that she would speak for a bit, then would take some questions; however, we were requested to not ask questions about recent or future court cases.  She walked into the room, and after telling us to be seated, she made her way to the podium.  We sat there transfixed at her presence in the room.  She spoke of the collegiality of the Court, evidenced by a tradition on any day that they are hearing arguments or meeting in conference that they go around the room and each justice shakes hands with all of the others.  She talked about their lunches, and how most of them eat together and talk about their families.  Former Justices O'Connor and Stevens still join them occasionally, and twice a year, they bring in a guest such as Condoleeza Rice or Kofi Annan.  She has a great sense of humor and a razor sharp mind.  When we got to the question time, she made us laugh, she answered questions directly, and showed what a brilliant mind she had.

Some highlights:
*When asked whether the Constitution was fixed or fluid, she quickly quoted the 14th Amendment's Equal Protection Clause and asked "Does this text protect women in 1868?"  She talked about how the rights of groups have changed over time.


*When asked about the reasons why public opinion polls showing a high approval rating of the Supreme Court remain stable while the President's and Congress's fluctuate, she responded: "It probably has something to do with that we have to give a reason for what we do."

*When asked if she would support oral arguments being televised, she shook her head no.  She explained that viewing the 30 minute oral arguments would not give people a sense of what the court really does.  The real work of the court is in the reading of the briefs, the discussions among the colleagues, and the opinion writing.

*When asked about her quote that Egypt should look to other constitutions rather than the US Constitution, she explained how other constitutions, such as South Africa define their rights at the outset, unlike ours that starts with the Legislative Branch.  She also referenced our history and how our states play a crucial role in the organization of our government.  Egypt does not have our same system, and should therefore look to the dozens of other examples that have been created since World War II.

*When asked about judicial restraint versus judicial activism, she made it clear that one must be careful in how they use the terms.  Judicial restraint does not equate to 'conservative', nor does judicial activism equate to 'liberal'.  She then quoted former Chief Justice William Rehnquist who compared the role of a judge to "that of a referee in a basketball game who is obliged to call a foul against a member of the home team at a critical moment in the game: he will be soundly booed, but he is nonetheless obliged to call it as he saw it, not as the home crowd wants him to call it."

As many of my colleagues have said today, no matter what you believe about the court's or any court member's ideology, it is a relief that these brilliant men and women sit on the highest court, and after much deliberation and argument, they make a decision based on principles that go well beyond partisan politics.

MEET THE FELLOWS: Drew Wendt is from West Virginia.  Be careful when you ask what part of the state he is from, because the hand motion to show WV may lead you to believe he is telling you that you are #1 (if you catch my drift).  He is definitely one of the smartest here, and has had a ton of experiences to share.  He is also one of the affable fellows, and that is saying something considering this group.

TOMORROW: Class, James Madison Symposium, then more paper writing.

Day Eighteen - Happy 4th!

If your Facebook is like mine, you have been inundated with celebrations and quotes about liberty and freedom.  Someone has probably quoted the Declaration of Independence, either "we hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal" or "unalienable rights that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" or even "these united colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent states."  All of these are timeless quotes that we should hold dear.  But as I said yesterday, this is only the first step.  


Walk through the following quotes to get a feel for the great men that lived, led and fought for our country in the great war that followed*.  


*Yes, I know that the war started in 1775, so saying "followed" is not exactly correct.  


"Yesterday the greatest question was decided... and a greater question perhaps never was nor will be decided among men. A resolution was passed without one dissenting colony, that these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent states."
John Adams, Letter to his wife, Abigail Adams, July 3, 1776



"THESE are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands by it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman." Paine, The American Crisis (December 23, 1776)

"I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country."
Nathan Hale, before being hanged by the British, September 22, 1776


"It is a common observation here that our cause is the cause of all mankind, and that we are fighting for their liberty in defending our own."
Benjamin Franklin, letter to Samuel Cooper, May 1, 1777

"The injuries we have received from the British nation were so unprovoked, and have been so great and so many, that they can never be forgotten."
George Washington, Letter to John Banister, 1778

"I have not yet begun to fight!"
John Paul Jones, response to enemy demand to surrender, September 23, 1779

The one that sticks out to me most is the Washington quote.  Washington held the Continental Army together singlehandedly.  Yet he was reflective and realistic about the situation.  And even though they faced such great odds, he remained dedicated to the cause.

In this time of partisan politics and divisiveness in the country, take time to remember the uniting bond that ties us all together: we are Americans, forged from the blood, sweat, tears, and ink of the Founding Fathers and those soldiers, activists and citizens who have worked to strengthen and expand our rights.  Make sure to include all of them in your thoughts and celebrations.

MEET THE FELLOWS: Will return tomorrow.

TOMORROW: The Supreme Court tour and a meeting with Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg!

Day Seventeen - A Pre-July 4th Thought...

Dr. Dreisbach brought up a question that we have pondered in several discussions over the last couple of weeks.  I think it is especially poignant to think about even on the 3rd (or 4th as it now is when I post).  As you celebrate July 4th, think about this:

Where was America on July 5th?  By that I mean, we declared independence, but were we 13 separate "nations" or one country?  Were we collectively independent?  What authority or government did we have?  

We have wrestled with these types of questions in order to better understand the thought process of the Founding Fathers.  So why bring it up today and not wait until Thursday?  As we celebrate our declaring independence 236 years ago, keep in mind that the vote to formally (and unanimously) approve Virginia's resolution on independence and the subsequent signing of the document was a frightening first step for our new country.  These men sacrificed a lot, and put their lives on the line as "traitors" to Great Britain, without something more than our rag-tag military being held together by Gen. Washington.  While the 4th is a grand day, we need to remember the 5th, the 6th, and so on, and the continuous work done by these great men to secure the blessings we have today.

On a lighter note, tonight I went with a bunch of the others to Nationals Park to see the Nats take on the Giants.  It was a great game until the rain delay, with the Nats roughing up Lincecum to the tune of 8 earned runs.  But as any baseball fan knows, the experience is not in just watching the game, its in the people watching too.  I'm all for freedom to choose your own style, but I don't understand the style of wearing the baseball caps with the flat bills turned at a 45 degree angle.  First of all, it's not practical because it doesn't block the sun out of your eyes, and second, it looks ridiculous.  (Insert old man joke here.)  There were several kids wearing that style about four rows in front of us, but to top it off, there was a kid with them with a well manicured mullet.  I will let you form your own opinion here.

MEET THE FELLOWS PART I: I have to give a shout out to the random Georgetown student who was stuck on the GUTS bus with all of us and had to put up with our loudness, and Yociel's stories of what his grandmother used to say to us.  When we finally made it back to campus, he took off out of the bus like a speeding bullet (or like Brian Johnson, whichever one is faster).

MEET THE FELLOWS PART II: Christine Chu is from Massachusetts.  She was the mysterious Fellow who just showed up one day after we started classes.  Her school didn't get out until the first Monday we were here, so she worked on the Monday, flew into DC Monday night, and started with us on Tuesday.  Then the next weekend, she went back to Boston to be in a friend's wedding.  She had planned to fly out Friday night, but since we got back from Montpelier late, she pushed her flight to Saturday morning, early enough to arrive and start the pre-wedding festivities.  Her first week was a crazier travel schedule than most of us had in our first couple of weeks.

TOMORROW: Morning lecture only, playing some basketball, then 4th of July festivities.  Everyone enjoy the holiday, and please be safe!

Day Sixteen - Great American Presidents

Mount Vernon was our destination today.  We arrived there a little before 8:00 this morning to have a tour of the mansion before the general public came.  After seeing Monticello and Montpelier, I was excited to see how Washington's house compared.  For someone who did not know Washington's and Jefferson's personalities, they would say that Mount Vernon was nowhere as magnificent as Monticello.  However, George Washington lived a simpler lifestyle than his contemporaries.  His house was very nice, but he and Martha were not showy.  His house reflected this lifestyle, with his study and bedroom set off in a part of the house that guests could not easily get to.  His house was more rustic, reminding us that he believed himself to be a farmer first and foremost.  For such a famous American, he was so humble.

What I like the best about him is a couple of facts that some historians say is his most important contribution to American republicanism ideals.  Following the end of the Revolutionary War, many people called for Washington to become King of America.  He profusely refused, and in an act to show support for the new nation as much as for his personal decision, he resigned his commission over the army, leaving power in the hands of the civilian government.  This act assured that the United States would not have a military government, and allowed the properly constituted government to take over.  In 1796, as his second term is coming to a close, many supporters urged him to seek a third term.  He decided that eight years as president was sufficient and that it was time for someone else to take power.  Again, the act showed that the new government was not going to go the way of a monarchy, and it insured a peaceful transfer of power.  In each circumstance, Washington could have followed the path as Caesar before him and Napoleon after him in taking sole power and using it for their own gain.  Instead, he believed in the ideals of the nation, and followed them to the very end.

So after completing the last of the home visits we have scheduled, and taking into account seeing the Lincoln exhibits at Ford's Theater, I got to reflecting on what I saw.  With all due respect to Theodore Roosevelt, the four I have seen -  Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, and Madison - should be the four on Mount Rushmore.  These are the four responsible for the government we have now: Jefferson's Declaration of Independence, Madison's work on the US Constitution, Washington's war victory and leading both the Constitutional Convention and the Executive Branch, and Lincoln's leadership in keeping the Union together.  The monuments on the National Mall are great, and you can see memorials for Washington, Lincoln, Jefferson, and FDR all together (which ironically is very close to the Rushmore foursome).  But what you can't understand walking around the Mall is the personal lives of the men.  These visits have been a valuable look into who these men truly were.


MEET THE FELLOWS: Shawn Hornung is from Kansas.  He lives near Kansas State University, his alma mater.  Shawn's wife and 7 year old daughter visited the first weekend, and from all accounts had a blast!  His daughter's favorite part was the Lincoln Memorial, which shows she has great taste.  Shawn is great to hang out with, and a very genuine guy.  


TOMORROW: Full class activities on the Constitutional Convention, then an evening at Nationals Park to see the 1st place Washington Nationals take on the 1st place San Francisco Giants.  A much better match-up then my previous game there in 2007 when I saw the last place Nationals take on a bad Cincinnati Reds team.

Day Fifteen - Around DC Again...

Another lazy(ish) day in the books.  I got the best night of sleep last night, probably because I was still tired from a late Friday night, early start yesterday, walking around most of the day, and then not going to bed until late.  And I didn't have to set an alarm either, so sleeping in was nice.

I went with some friends to see Ford's Theater.  I have been there once before, to see To Kill a Mockingbird.  But I have never done the tour.  It was well worth the time.  They have a fantastic museum in the lower level to the Civil War and the events of April 14, 1865.  It was a fantastic insight to Abraham Lincoln, a President that I am sad to say I don't know as much about as I should.  The one negative about not teaching US History is that I don't delve into a lot of the particularly fascinating stories about the great men of our nation's history beyond Washington's presidency.  I'm not looking to sign up for it because of how North Carolina's curriculum (currently) works with teaching all of US History in one semester, especially since the emphasis is misplaced IMHO.  So this was a great delve into history that I really enjoyed.

The tour took us into the theater itself where you can walk around and take pictures.  I got the same chill as I did on my last visit to think that it was in this very theater that the assassination took place.  The tour then continued across the street to the Peterson house, where Lincoln was taken and where he ultimately died.  There is an Education Center in that building too, and it is a worthwhile stop if you are ever in DC.

Following Ford's Theater, we made a quick stop in the Hard Rock Cafe gift shop, then headed towards Chinatown to the National Portrait Gallery.  This is another under appreciated museum.  It is full of, yes you guessed it, portraits of America.  If you take the American History Museum and just focused on the people, that is essentially what the Portrait Gallery is.  I love their exhibit of the American Presidents.  Another place that should be a must see.

We ate lunch at Fuddrucker's before heading back to Georgetown.  I have had to make myself start getting back into class mode after a weekend of no classwork.  It has been very hard though.

Tomorrow is not only a new lecture, but a trip to Mount Vernon.  I have heard wonderful things about it, and can't wait to see it.

MEET THE FELLOWS: Stephanie Walsh is our Fellow from Denver, Colorado.  Fortunately, the Colorado fires have not affected her house and family, and we pray that it doesn't.  I met Steph the first night we played basketball.  She definitely mixed it up with the guys and had quite the impressive post game.  I knew she was a serious competitor when I got switched to guard her and she made me look foolish in the paint.  I also got to spend valuable time picking her brain about teaching AP Government.  She has been an AP reader for the last few years and imparted some valuable knowledge on me that will make my students better.

TOMORROW: Mount Vernon tour... I'm sure I will have a few things to talk about.