Chris Jolley
Published: 2015-10-02
Total Pages: 300
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Both a manual and a program, "Teaching Children the 28 Principles of Liberty" expounds upon the principles in Cleon Skousen's book, "The 5000 Year Leap," and lays out a program to help adults teach the principles to children.This is not just a rewrite Skousen's book, but a manual for adults to teach children ages 8-11 these principles. The principles are not difficult to understand, but Skousen wrote his book for adults, not children. Each lesson teaches one principle per each hour-long meeting, with fun games, activities, role-plays, crafts, songs, and thoughtful, reflective discussions. The book is also a program. To present these lessons and entice children to want to learn them, the children join a club, called the Constitution Club. Each club member has a leadership position in the club. Every club has to have a president. This club also has a secretary of defense, a secretary of the treasury, a secretary of the interior, a chief of staff, and so forth. The club members all have specific responsibilities in their club. Club meetings start with an opening ceremony, including a prayer and pictures and quotes from our Founding Fathers supporting the principle learned about in that club meeting. They get to wear club uniforms. They receive immediate rewards for good behavior, such as participating in the activities, showing up on time, fulfilling their duties in their leadership positions. At the end of the 28 club meetings, if they fulfill all of the requirements they receive a beautiful plaque with their name engraved on it, the coveted James Madison Award.The layout is much like a cookbook: each club meeting lesson spells out what supplies the adult leader will need and step-by-step instructions for every activity. We are living the results of generations of people NOT knowing these principles. We elect leaders from the president on down to city councilmen who don't know these principles. We are how many trillions of dollars in debt? Our economy is stagnant. Our country is declining morally. Property rights are ignored. Religious liberty is allowed only if it doesn't interfere with the government's interests. One may like to elect leaders who will govern and lead following principles of liberty. But campaign trickery will only go so far. What needs to happen is for adults, especially parents, to teach their children these principles. When that happens the people will not have to be tricked into voting for the virtuous candidate, but they will seek him or her out and know what to look for. This will not happen in one election cycle. It has taken 100 years for Progressive Socialism to infiltrate our country; it may take a generation or longer to turn things around, one child's heart and mind at a time.