Things We'd Like to See: The Magna Carta

Freedom. Citizens' rights. Constitutional government.

We in the United States of America all too often take these for granted. For generation upon generation we have lived with peaceful government transitions, the ability to challenge and test our rule of law, limited government power, and the right of the people to be heard.

Despite what many Americans might believe, this didn't begin with the the Declaration of Independence. Instead, the path to individual rights was forged centuries before with the Magna Carta in 1215.

The Magna Carta, literally the "Great Charter," granted political and civil liberties, greatly preducing the power of the English monarchy and allowing for the formation of a powerful Parliament. King John of England (1166 - 1216) was forced to sign it by Archbishop Stephen Langton and the most powerful barrons of England. This document forced the king to govern by pre-Norman laws and demonstrated that the reach of the monarchy could be limited by written edict.

The power of this document cannot be understated. Its influence can be seen in current British law, the Declaration of Rights in the Maryland Constitution of 1776, the U.S. Constitution, the Bill of Rights. Five and a half centuries before the Revolutionary War, the Magna Carta laid the groundwork for separation of Church and State, levying of taxes, right to trial by jury, and uniformity of weights and measures. While not a perfect document, (women's rights are virtually non-existent), it was an enormous leap forward in thinking and action.

We in the greater San Francisco Bay Area can now view this truly revolutionary document at the Legion of Honor. On loan from the Bodleian Library at the University of Oxford, the manuscript will be on view from May 7 through June 5. This once-in-a-lifetime event is an extraordinary opportunity to see the power of the written word.

When considering visiting this exhibit, please don't limit it to older children and youths. If you're able to go with other adults who can help with little kids (take them outside when the wiggles strike), please do. This document is intrinsic to all our lives. It's up to us, as homeschooling parents, to make it relevant to our entire family. Older students can certainly learn about and appreciate the Magna Carta's historical significance; younger students can focus on the interesting writing and colors, talk about the picture on the wax seal, or watch the people coming to visit. The Legion of Honor has many other on-going exhibits, as well. If you keep in mind these Tips for Successful Museum Visits, everyone should gain something positive from their visit.

For more field trip ideas,

check out GHF's Virtual Field Trips page.

Admission is reasonably priced at $10 for adults, $7 for seniors, $6 for youths 13-17 and students with valid ID, and free for children 12 and under.

For more information on the Magna Carta, check out the following links:
Magna Carta to make rare appearance, San Jose Mercury News, 4/06/11
Legion of Honor, Magna Carta
Translated text of the Magna Carta
Magna Carta 1215
Wikipedia: Magna Carta
Books about the Magna Carta

Article by Sarah J. Wilson

"The Presidents: The Lives and Legacies of the 43 Leaders of the United States"

In 2005, the History Channel aired the documentary named The Presidents: The Lives and Legacies of the 43 Leaders of the United States. Now available in a three-DVD set, this series gives fascinating insight into the men who have shaped our government, our nation, and at times, the world.

Each president is treated with equal time, based on the number of terms served. So, George Washington gets the same amount of time as Ronald Reagan (both two terms), John Adams the same as George Bush (both one term), with Franklin D. Roosevelt having the most (four terms).

The subject matter could have been dry and boring, but is instead delivered with visual and auditory variety. Talking heads discuss the various goals, accomplishments, and failures of the presidents; pictures of homes, family, contemporaries, political cartoons, and documents are presented; and a “baseball card” is created for each president, with his picture on the front and interesting personality and attitude insights as “stats” on the back.

The history delivered only covers the presidents’ terms in office. If they held other office prior, it is glossed over. If they were military men, it is briefly mentioned. The point of the series is to talk about these men as presidents, without delving into their past for clues to their actions.

This is not a “rah rah, U.S.A.” piece. Both the good and bad of our country are discussed. Presidential decisions that prolonged slavery. Actions that led to civil war. Doctrines that bring shame.

The series is a wonderful overview of our presidents: the strong and the ineffectual, the healthy and the ill, those with good intentions and those with none, those who strived for the presidency and those who found it thrust upon them.

One of the bonus features is All the Presidents’ Wives, which goes through the women behind these men. One hears so little about the wives, which makes this interesting viewing. The only complaint is that, unlike the main series, it is not chronological. Instead, it is organized by attributes. So, a wife may be discussed in more than one context. This became boring for my very logical thinker, but may not be an issue for other viewers.

The Presidents has been watched numerous times in our household and spawned a greater interested in U.S. history, as a whole.

Article by Sarah J. Wilson

"You Decide!": Studying the Bill of Rights

Many say the Constituion of the United States of America in an inspired document. But, when it came time to ratify the Constitution, many states felt that it did not guarantee specific rights to the people. Without this "bill of rights," the Constitution faced rejection. So with a promise to work on a Bill of Rights, the Constitution was adopted on September 17, 1787. The Bill of Rights followed over four years later, on December 15, 1791.

No American education is complete without studying this vital document. What rights are guaranteed? Why did the founding fathers feel compelled to address these specific issues in the first ten amendments to the Constitution? How have these rights been challenged and upheld? What is the process?

You Decide! Applying the Bill of Rights to Real Cases, from The Critical Thinking Co., helps students learn about the Bill of Rights by casting the students as judges in ruling on 75 cases that went before the U.S. Supreme Court.

Each sections follows the same format:

You Be the JudgeStudents read two U.S. Supreme Court cases and answer questions about how they would rule.

What Does the Amendment Say?Students read the actual amendment. Then, the amendment is broken into segments, new vocabulary is defined, and then restate the amendment in their own words.

Some Past Decisions of the Supreme CourtA number of cases, with their backgrounds, are presented. Students use the Guide for Analyzing Cases, which helps the students break out the main facts of the case, what amendment was involved, what particular clause of the amendment was involved, what state law or provision (if any) was allegedly involved, what were the issues of the case, what the U.S. Supreme Court decided, and why the Court decided as it did.

What are the Origins of the Various ClausesThe Bill of Rights was not written in a vacuum; it can only be understood within its historical background. While the Court must rule with present considerations in mind, deeper comprehension comes with learning the reason the founding fathers felt these rights must be guaranteed in writing.

The Amendment TodayHow do these amendments affect our lives today? How have the Court's rulings secured and honed our rights?

The workbook and answer guide (You Decide! Instruction/Answer Guide Applying the Bill of Rights to Real Cases) are designed to be used in a student/teacher situation. Discussion points, question sheets, multiple-choice questions, and the Guide for Analyzing Cases provide thoughtful interaction and comprehensive methods to gauge understanding.

Another option for studying with the books is to use them as a jumping off point for family discussions. In our family, we instituted "Constitutional Law at Dinner." The name appeals to our children, but what they really enjoy are the discussions. Once or twice a week, while eating dinner, we work throught the book together. One night we read an amendment and discuss what it means. Another, we talk about its historical context. On yet another, we read two or three cases and say how we would rule and why. Sometimes we agree, but often we don't. Each person must support their opinion. If they struggle with their reasons, we work through it together. Then we read how the U.S. Supreme Court actually ruled and discuss why we agree or disagree. Occasionally, we really haven't understood the ruling, so we go back through the specifics of the case. Although we may still disagree with the ruling, we better understand it.

We can easily stay on one amendment for a couple of weeks, as You Decide! presents many cases and plenty of background information. Although the workbooks are geared toward grades 6-12+, by discussing them as a family, younger children will pick up concepts and vocabulary, as well as learn how to participate in friendly debates.

With You Decide!, our entire family has gained a deeper appreciation for the Bill of Rights and for the impressive document it is.