George Washington firmly believed in the importance of civic
education.
“[T]he best means of forming a manly, virtuous and happy
people, will be found in the right education of youth. Without this foundation,
every other means, in my opinion, must fail…”
Letter to George
Chapman, December 15, 1784
“…Knowledge is in every country the surest basis of public
happiness.”
First Annual Address,
Friday, January 8, 1790
“Promote, then, as an object of primary importance,
institutions for the general diffusion of knowledge. In proportion as the
structure of a government gives force to public opinion, it is essential that
public opinion should be enlightened.” Farewell Address,
September 17, 1796
“[A] primary object of such a national institution should be
the education of our youth in the science of government. In a republic what
species of knowledge can be equally important and what duty more pressing on
its legislature than to patronize a plan for communicating it to those who are
to be the future guardians of the liberties of the country?”
Eighth Annual Message,
December 7, 1796
In
a Republic, civic education is the sine
qua non, or indispensable ingredient to perpetuating our Constitutional
form of government, the fruits of which are ordered liberty and felicity. Yet,
it goes without saying that civic education is on the decline in America.
Numerous studies and articles have focused on this deterioration in basic
knowledge of the history and roots of our nation’s founding and source
documents among students and citizens alike. Most would agree that if we are to remain as a free society
and continue to govern ourselves as an enlightened and responsible citizenry,
we must devote greater resources and efforts to educating the rising
generation. There are many
opportunities to become involved in this cause, extending from our own
communities and local schools to higher education. Nowhere is this need more
evident than at the college and university level, where in many circles American
founding principles are often ignored, discarded, and even disdained in the
curriculum and in public discourse. And, in places where there does exist a
certain level of such education and acceptance in traditional American Heritage
courses, frequently the offerings are limited and lack depth and substance in
the areas of natural law principles (such as the writings of Locke &
Sidney), the Declaration of Independence, the Federalist Papers, and
Washington’s Farewell Address, along with principles of the U. S. Constitution
and Bill of Rights.
The George Washington Center for Constitutional Studies (GWCCS)
will be located in the heart of central Virginia, adjacent to the campus of an
established, religious-oriented, liberal arts college located in Buena Vista,
just hours from the homes of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and James
Madison — Southern Virginia University (SVU). The Center will focus its
efforts in three areas: Teacher Education, Citizen Education, and Student
Education.
The Mission of the Center and its primary objectives are
as follows:
“The George Washington Center for Constitutional Studies is
a nonpartisan academic institute that promotes Civic Education, and the instruction,
study, and ideological defense of the Constitution of the United States of
America, the Bill of Rights, and the Declaration of Independence, using primary
sources.”
“The Center offers classes and instruction on the
Constitution, America’s founding documents, the lives and writings of the
Founders, the Revolution and Founding of the American Republic, and will hold,
sponsor or participate in events, conferences, seminars, workshops, symposia
and related activities. It brings together students, teachers, scholars and
citizens for consideration of constitutional principles, and issues relating to
history, politics, and religion.”
The Washington, Jefferson & Madison Institute (WJMI) has
been engaged in teacher education in Virginia for the past ten years (since
2007). WJMI is pleased to announce
that it will be affiliated with the George Washington Center for Constitutional
Studies, primarily for purposes of co-sponsoring continuing education courses
and workshops for secondary school teachers that teach Social Studies, Civics,
U.S. Government and U.S. History.
We invite you to visit the Center’s new website at:
georgewashingtoncenter.org, and to support our efforts to promote and strengthen
“Civic Education in America.”
