Bill of Rights Day
December 15th, marks the two-hundred-twenty-third
anniversary of the ratification of the Bill of Rights, which took place
in 1791. It was certainly quite a spectacle last summer to watch young
Luke Boyce (also known as Kid Constitution) recite all ten amendments
that comprise our Bill of Rights at Camp Constitution’s week-long family camp. Luke is great example to us all to memorize
this document, and to thus be more familiar with the sacred,
God-given rights which it safeguards.
But there was one important part of the Bill of Rights which he left
out. I don’t blame Luke for this; indeed, this part is left out in
many printings of our constitution, and is probably unknown to most
college law professors. I speak of the preamble to the Bill of Rights,
which is important because its opening lines describe both the purpose
and the primacy of the ten amendments that follow.
At Camp, we all know that our Constitution has a preamble: indeed, we sing it at
campfire. But how many of us know that the Bill of Rights has a
preamble all its own? The most important, opening lines are as follows:
The Conventions of a number of the States, having at the time of their adopting the Constitution, expressed a desire, in order to prevent misconstruction or abuse of its powers, that further declaratory and restrictive clauses should be added.
Anti-federalists like Patrick Henry and George Mason were alarmed by the new powers granted in the Constitution, and wanted to make sure that they could never be twisted and turned against WE, THE PEOPLE. They understood all the abuses that had happened to us under British rule, as well as in other countries and previous republics such as Greece and Rome. Thus, with our own Constitution, they wished to prevent any possible “misconstruction or abuse of its powers.”
Thus the preamble states these first ten amendments to be: “declaratory and restrictive clauses.” This means they supersede and restrict all previous parts of the Constitution, as well as all subsequent amendments to the restraining framework of the Bill of Rights amendments. THE BILL OF RIGHTS AMENDMENTS ARE A FIREWALL. THEY COMPRISE THE MOST POWERFUL PART OF OUR CONSTITUTION BECAUSE THEY PLACE VERY SPECIFIC RESTRICTIONS ON THE POWERS OF THE GOVERNMENT TO INFRINGE UPON THE RIGHTS OF WE,THE PEOPLE.
In the past hundred years, especially, our government has grown way beyond
the very modest size and scope intended by the founders. Thus it is up to us to teach the
meaning of the founding documents to others, and to elect true statesmen who will fight to
restore them. It is up to us to write (and at times, visit) our elected officials to
remind them of their sacred oath to protect and defend the Constitution.
If we do not fight for our Constitution and Bill of Rights right now, in these crucial, dangerous times, then they will simply not be there for us, when we need them. Without our help and our fight they are but crumbling, aged, yellowed parchment.
In Liberty,
“Tricorner” Tom Moor
Thanksgiving Day 1789
THANKSGIVING DAY 1789
BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA – A PROCLAMATION
Whereas it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favor – and Whereas both Houses of Congress have by their joint Committee requested me “to recommend to the People of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with …grateful hearts the many signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness.”
Now therefore I do recommend and assign Thursday the 26th day of November next to be devoted by the People of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being, who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be – That we may then all unite in rendering unto him our sincere and humble thanks – for his kind care and protection of the People of this country previous to their becoming a Nation – for the signal and manifold mercies, and the favorable interpositions of his providence, which we experienced in the course and conclusion of the late war –for the great degree of tranquillity, union, and plenty, which we have since enjoyed – for the peaceable and rational manner in which we have been enabled to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national One now lately instituted, for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed, and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and in general for all the great and various favors which he hath been pleased to confer upon us.
And also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech him to pardon our national and other transgressions – to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually – to render our national government a blessing to all the People, by constantly being a government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed – to protect and guide all Sovereigns and Nations (especially such as have shewn kindness unto us) and to bless them with good government, peace, and concord – To promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increase of science among them and Us – and generally to grant unto all mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as he alone knows to be best.
Given under my hand at the City of New York the third day of October in the year of our Lord 1789.
GO. WASHINGTON.
Camp Constitution wishes all a Happy Thanksgiving. Please visit our camp book store https://campconstitution.net/store/products/category/books/
Camp Constitution Adds On-Line Bookstore to its Website
Camp Constitution is pleased to announce the creation of an on line bookstore featuring products published by Camp Constitution Press including timeless classics like “Sockdolager” The Not Yours to Give story of Davey Crockett, “America’s Dynamic Duo Morality and Freedom…Camp Constitution’s Dynamic Duo Rev. Garrett Lear and Rev. Steve Craft.” and “Execute the Laws to Restore the Republic.” Camp Constitution Press is in the process of publishing a book by Peter Boyce on the dangers of an Article V Convention, and a collection of essays by the Guardians of Education in Maine.
All proceeds go to support Camp Constitution’s annual family summer camp and its various outreach activities.
https://campconstitution.net/store/products
Our Great Constitution: “To establish an uniform Rule of Naturalization” v. Executive Order Fraud & Unconstitutional Amnesty
By Daniel Vincent McGonigle III
November 20, 2014 [This commentary was originally published as a “Note” on Facebook, November 6, 2014]
Specific powers granted, and the separation of powers, are enumerated in the Constitution.
Presidential Executive Orders/Actions apply within the federal Executive branch of government; and do not apply to the Congress, the Judiciary, the States, or We the People. Executive Orders are not Laws, which are made by Congress.
Orders signed and executed by past Presidents, and the absence of judicial determination, are irrelevant to determining the constitutionality of Executive Orders. The Constitution means what it says.
The People have superseding power:
[Declaration]: “Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed ”.
[Preamble]: “We the People *** do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.”
Article I Congressional power:
Art I Section 1: “All legislative Powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States, . .”
Art I Sec 8 Clause 4: “To establish an uniform Rule of Naturalization . .”
Art I Sec 8 Clause 15: “To provide for calling forth the Militia to execute the Laws of the Union, suppress Insurrections and repel Invasions;”
The purpose of the 435 U.S. Representatives is to represent We the People.
The purpose of the 100 U.S. Senators is to represent the States. The 17th Amendment of 1913 was and is repugnant to the original intent of the Constitution, and removed power of the States over their U.S. Senators; thereby unbalancing the separation of powers between the States and federal government, in favor of federal government and more centralized power.
Nowhere in the Constitution is there any remote suggestion that law-making be in the sole hands of a single person.
One of the purposes and powers of “the Militia of the several States [Art II Sec 2 Cl 1] *** composed of the body of the People ” [Virginia Const Decl of Rights Sec 13] is “to execute the Laws“, including per Art VI Clause 2: “This Constitution *** the supreme Law “, when it is “[being] necessary to the security of a free State ” [2ndAmendment]; and, additionally confirmed by “The powers *** reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.” [10thAmendment].
A necessity for emergency execution would include when the everyday constitutional execution of the Laws is not being performed, such as the current state of affairs.
Article II Presidential power:
Art II Sec 1 Clause 1: “The executive Power shall be vested in a President of the United States of America . .”
Art II Sec 3: “He *** shall take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed, . .”
When a bill passes Congress and then goes to the President’s desk: the POTUS can sign it and it immediately becomes Law; the POTUS can refuse to sign it and it becomes Law in 10 days; or, the POTUS can Veto it, which would require a 2/3 vote passage by Congress to override the Veto for it to become Law. The Veto power is an additional constitutional check that is available on a majority vote in Congress.
Only a constitutional ignoramus, pretending to have advanced constitutional knowledge, would assert that–when it is said “the President signed a bill into Law ” means that the President made Law.
Congress is enumerated to make [constitutional] “Laws *** made in Pursuance” of “This Constitution”; the President and officials underneath the President execute [constitutional] Laws; and the People through the Militia are enumerated “to execute the [constitutional] Laws ” in an emergency or when “necessary to the security of a free State “.
Powers are granted or “vested ” under separate Articles, to prevent any one branch of government from becoming dictatorial or too powerful over other branches.
Orders signed and executed by by the President must be within the powers constitutionally granted and within the Laws existing: “This Constitution, and the Laws *** made in Pursuance thereof ” [Art VI Clause 2].
When the President said after the election that he would do whatever he could do through executive action, the alleged “lawful” action he meant was signing an Executive Action that would pretend to make new immigration “Law ”, which would in fact not be “lawful” because only Congress has enumerated power to make “Laws“.
The President is pretending that his predicted executive action would be constitutional and lawful, despite his lack of law-making authority and the separation of powers, despite his lack of authority to give Orders affecting society outside of the federal executive branch, and despite the constitutional mandate and restriction of Art I Sec 8 Clause 4.
“To establish an uniform Rule of Naturalization ” means the same single line and same Law for everyone seeking USA citizenship; which means no exceptions, and certainly no special “amnesty” for millions of illegals.
So, it strongly appears that the proposed “amnesty”, if permitted to be done, would violate multiple Clauses of the U.S. Constitution.
Who will enforce our Constitution, when “necessary “?
At the time that the Constitution was approved in Convention in Philadelphia, and then ratified by the States in their Conventions, the body of the People were enumerated to compose the Militia by State Constitutions and Statutes: “That a well regulated militia, composed of the body of the people, trained to arms, is the proper, natural, and safe defense of a free state . .” [Virginia Constitution Decl of Rights Sec 13].
The U.S. Constitution & Bill of Rights, and then federal Militia Statutes, maintained and strengthened the pre-existing State-County-Local Militia command structures. It makes perfect, logical sense that the superseding constitutional authority is enumerated to enforce our Constitution in any emergency or when necessary.
The alleged “liberty movement” and alleged “constitutionalists” need to get with the program, or get out of the way. The un-American factions must be and will be prevented in their facilitation of destruction of America from either without or within. When factions resort to baseless name-calling [e.g. “extremist”; “potential domestic terrorist”] in their talking-points, they reveal their own lack of legitimate argument. America can and will be constitutionally restored to her intended greatness; when “the People” get on board with our own superseding authority, 2nd only to “the Laws of Nature and Nature’s God “.
It is job #1 of the 7,300+ State Legislators to restore and re-organize the disbanded command structures, and then ensure performance of enumerated State-County-Local institutions composed of We the People that have the ultimate constitutional authority “to execute the Laws of the Union“, including enforcing “This Constitution *** the supreme Law” when it is “necessary to the security of a free State” [Art I Sec 8 Clause 15; Art VI Clause 2; 2nd Amendment].
We the People in re-organized re-authorized command structures as mandated, will enforce our Constitution when “necessary”, as intended. Proper performance of these mandated State-County-Local command structures, includes the constitutional means to truly secure our borders, and to fully deter tyranny, as “necessary“.
——–
November 6, 2014 — https://www.facebook.com/notes/daniel-vincent-mcgonigle-iii/our-great-constitution-to-establish-an-uniform-rule-of-naturalization-v-executiv/1559633277605476
© 2014 Daniel Vincent McGonigle III
——–
See: Sheriffs standing up:
See: OBAMA IMMIGRATION ACTION IS ILLEGAL AND UNCONSTITUTIONAL, J.B. Williams, November 25, 2014 http://www.newswithviews.com/JBWilliams/williams294.htm
See: Q – Where are Executive Orders authorized in the U.S. Constitution?, November 18, 2014, The American View http://www.theamericanview.com/q-where-are-executive-orders-authorized-in-the-u-s-constitution-2/
———
Mr. McGonigle is expert on the Security-Militia Clauses in the Constitution & Bill of Rights, and is author-editor of “Execute the Laws” To Restore the Republic (2013) Camp Constitution Press. He publishes brief commentaries here and at the blog EnforceOurConstitution.com, and is a regular instructor at the annual Camp Constitution. Mr. McGonigle, through published posts, commentaries, interviews and speaking tours, is promoting the formation of official Committees of Correspondence and official Committees of Safety, first at the local level and based on historical precedent. Since 2010, and following in the footsteps of the nation’s top constitutional scholar–Dr. Edwin Vieira, Jr., Mr. McGonigle has been promoting necessary revitalization of enumerated well regulated Militia of the several States, that will peacefully facilitate restoration of constitutional security, constitutional money and constitutional enforcement.
“Execute the Laws” To Restore the Republic (2013) — https://campconstitution.net/store/products/execute-the-laws
Happy Constitution Day: How Well Do Know Your “Freedom Manual?”
Today we celebrate the 227th Anniversary of the U.S. Constitution. Sadly, most Americans know little to nothing about this great document. Camp Constitution mans information tables at various venues the year and offers those who stop by our tables to take a simple 10 question quiz. We challenge you to take it.
Constitution Quiz:
1, Which amendment protects the right to keep and bear arm
2, What is the age requirement for the U.S. Senate?
3, Which amendment reads “From each according to his abilities, to
each according to his needs?”
4, Lawmaking abilities are vested in which branch of government?
5, How many amendments does the Constitution have?
6, Which branch of government has the power to regulate education?
7, Where in the Constitution is foreign aid mentioned?
4, Congress- Article One, Section One.
5, Twenty-seven
6, None. The U.S. Constitution does not grant any power regarding education in the Constitution.
7, It isn’t mentioned. The Constitution never gave the federal government any power to give taxpayer money to foreign countries. A treaty may include financial arrangements but this wouldn’t be foreign aid.
8, 2/3 of those present (Article II, Section, II, Paragraph II)
9, The House of Representatives (Article I, Section II, Paragraph 5
10, Congress (Article I, Section 8, Paragraph 11
Thank you for taking the quiz. We hope that this will challenge you to both learn more, and help others learn about this incredible document. We also hope that you will take an important role in the freedom movement. If you would like more information about Camp Constitution, please visit our web site www.campconstitution.net
For a downloadable copy:
Camp Constitution Announces its 2015 Annual Family Camp
Mark your calendars: Camp Constitution’s 2015 Annual Family camp will be held at Toah Nipi Christian Retreat Center in Rindge, NH from Sunday July 12 to Sunday July 19. While we haven’t finalized all of the activities, Mrs. KrisAnne Hall will return to camp next year. Camp applications, and promotional brochures will be available soon. Check out our 2014 camp videos http://https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zpEjsw7jX68&index=17&list=PL7jnzBzBiNYDdeZnCmuy5kQGVfwPW8J6t
Camp Constitution 2014
Camp Constitution’s 2014 annual family camp held at the Toah Nipi Christian Retreat Center in Rindge, NH ended last week. This year’s camp drew attendees as far as Florida and Michigan. Mrs. KrisAnne Hall, attending for the first time, was a bit hit with staffers and campers alike. Along with her inspirational, and motivational classes, she did several radio shows while at camp featuring interviews of campers. Instructor, Garret Lear, “The Patriot Pastor,” added a class on the use of a musket and several campers had the opportunity to fire the musket. Campers also heard from Mr. Larry Cleveland, a life-long Rindge resident who organized a successful attempt to stop Agenda 21 type programs from being implemented in the town. He demonstrated how informed citizens can indeed fight “city hall.” Leadership workshops conducted by Earl Wallace, author of “The Three Dimensional Leader” motivated the camp’s junior counselors to start an on-line monthly magazine, and produce a promotional DVD which should be available shortly. On the last full day of camp, senior campers did a distribution of U.S. Constitution to members of the business community in nearby Jaffrey, NH.
The all-day field trip to Old Ironsides and Bunker Hill ws complimented by classes about the famous battleship by a former crew member, and camp instructor, Norman Tregenza. Campers also visited the boyhood home of Uncle Sam in nearby Mason, NH. Owner Jean-Pierre Mouraux travelled from Sonoma, CA to open the house for the campers.
Super campers were awarded to veteran campers Jillian Kalis and Ben Leveillee. They were awarded a free tuition for next year’s camp. Runner-ups were first time campers Dominic and Madeleine Girard. Super counselor went to Mr. Chris Kalis who travels all theway from Michigan with his family to attend. Dates for next year’s camp will be announced soon.
Videos of classes and activities can be found on Youtube and camp photos are available on the camp’s facebook pages.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL7jnzBzBiNYDdeZnCmuy5kQGVfwPW8J6t
The Law[s], Organized Common Defense of Liberty, and The Militia of The Constitution
By Daniel Vincent McGonigle III
July 4, 2014
Anarchist, secessionist and neo-con anti-constitutionalists contaminate the liberty movement with an un-American intellectual disease, and have a penchant for quoting 20th century philosopher Friedrich Hayek in their bogus attempts to back up their promotion of anarchist, secessionist, anti-constitutionalist philosophy.
These promoters of un-American anti-constitutionalism who pretend to be pro-liberty, ignore a major western political philosophy principle: that the end or purpose of government is the common or collective defense of life, liberty and property. Obviously, that principle is pro-liberty. No less than Thomas Hobbes, John Locke, Samuel Adams, Frederic Bastiat, and 21st century scholars Dr. Edwin Vieira, Jr. and Pastor Garrett Lear, have confirmed the principle.
Samuel Adams in the 1772 Boston Committee of Correspondence Report, proclaimed that “the grand end of civil government” is the common defence of Rights, the principal of which being Life, Liberty and Property.
The U.S. Constitution enumerates in the Preamble, the purpose: “to provide for the common defence“, and enumerates at Art I Sec 8 Clause 1, the power: “to provide for the common Defence“.
French political economist Frederic Bastiat in his 1850 book The Law, asserted that “the Law” is the collective defense of life, liberty and property. The American Constitution was Bastiat’s favorite form of government.
Definition of the word mentioned 6 times in the Constitution & Bill of Rights:
“MILI’TIA, n. . . The body of soldiers [militiamen] in a state enrolled for discipline, but not engaged in actual service except in emergencies; as distinguished from regular troops, whose sole occupation is war or military service. The militia of a country are the able bodied men organized into companies, regiments and brigades, with officers of all grades, and required by law to attend military exercises on certain days only, but at other times left to pursue their usual occupations.” — Noah Webster’s 1828 American Dictionary
The 1776 Virginia Declaration of Rights: “Section 13. That a well-regulated militia, composed of the body of the people, trained to arms, is the proper, natural, and safe defense of a free state; that standing armies, in time of peace, should be avoided as dangerous to liberty; and that in all cases the military should be under strict subordination to, and governed by, the civil power.”
Enumerated in the U.S. Constitution at Art I Sec 8 Clause 16: “To provide for organizing, arming, and disciplining, the Militia, and for governing such Part of them as may be employed in the Service of the United States, reserving to the States respectively, the Appointment of the Officers, and the Authority of training the Militia “.
Hayek associates “liberty ” with “organization “:
“The argument for liberty is not an argument against organization, which is one of the most powerful tools human reason can employ, but an argument against all exclusive, privileged, monopolistic organization, against the use of coercion to prevent others from doing better.” ― Friedrich Hayek
Disbanding of the People began with the January 21, 1903 federal Militia Act: “the organized militia, to be known as the National Guard of the State “. The National Guard that claimed to be “the organized militia ” was later federalized, in violation of the Constitution’s confirmation that the Militia are State institutions, enumerated at Art II Sec 2 Clause 1: “the Militia of the several States ”. Today, anarchists-voluntaryists-secessionists support the “Unorganized Militia ” false principle of the 1916 National Defense Act, an oxymoron NOT enumerated in any of the federal or state constitutions, but along with “Reserve Militia ” of 1903, were and are both oxymorons stipulated only in repugnant federal and state statutes under color of law since 1903. That disbanding of the People from the Militia may be the greatest anti-liberty example of “exclusive, privileged, monopolistic organization ” that Hayek spoke of.
The disbanding of the Militia and disbanding the whole body of the People who composed the Militia in the early 20th century, contradicted Art I Sec 8 Clause 16, contradicted Webster’s American definition of “Militia”, and contradicted 300 years of pre-Constitution and post-Constitution statutes mandating involvement of the body of the People. In 1774, the People in Militia command structures took control of government operations throughout the colonies, without firing a shot.
Enumerated at Art I Sec 8 Clause 15: “To provide for calling forth the Militia to execute the Laws of the Union, suppress Insurrections and repel Invasions “.
The Second Amendment: “A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.”
The Tenth Amendment: “The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.”
The 1776 Declaration of Independence and the 1787 Constitution Preamble confirm the supreme authority of the People. The statutory un-organizing of the body of the People who compose the Militia, in effect, dis-empowered We the People and repugnantly removed our organized ability to execute supreme authority when necessary. That organized authority “to execute [Clause 15] .. This Constitution, and the Laws .. made in Pursuance thereof ” [Art VI Clause 2], must be restored.
Revitalizing the State-County-Local Militia institutions through the passing of a single statute in the States, and thereby restoring performance of the enforcement and security Clauses of the Constitution, is in fact THE urgent necessity that We the people and state legislators must pursue.
© 2014 Daniel Vincent McGonigle III
Mr. McGonigle is author-editor of “Execute the Laws” To Restore the Republic (2013) Camp Constitution Press, he publishes brief commentaries here and at the blog EnforceOurConstitution.com, and is an instructor at the annual Camp Constitution.
https://campconstitution.net/store/products/execute-the-laws
https://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/670307.Friedrich_Hayek
How Agenda 21 was Kicked out of a Small New Hampshire Town
Rindge, NH is a small rural town in the Southwest part of the state. It has a population of 4,000-5,000 and is 50 square miles. The town traces its history to the Colonial era; its militia answered the Concord alarm. It is also the location of Camp Constitution’s annual summer camp. In the Spring of 2012, a man visited Rindge’s town hall to hand deliver information about Agenda 21 to its selectmen, and town manager.. It was there that he found a copy of the Plan NH Rindge Charette that took place earlier in the year. He wrote a letter to the editor of the local newspaper warning the folks in Rindge that an element of Agenda 21 was being introduced into the town via HUD. The letter was also pasted on the Town of Rindge facebook page. Within a few hours of the facebook posting, certain Rindge residents that were either listed as participants in the Charette, or who supported the Charette’s goals, attacked and denounced the letter writer. It backfired. A number of residents investigated the information produced by the letter writer, and came to the same conclusion including the man who became the founder of Save Our Town, Larry Cleveland. Mr. Cleveland, whose family has lived in Rindge for generations, didn’t like the idea that his neighborhood in West Rindge was slated for rezoning into a “smart growth” area which would have led, among other things,to so-called mixed-used housing funded in part by HUD. In October of 2013, he sponsored a public meeting renting out space in a town facility. He invited two New Hampshire state representatives that had success in defeating these HUD programs in their towns. Well over 200 folks showed up to hear the presentation. In the wake of that meeting “Save Our Town” was created. Now the town’s so-called progressives have to content with hundreds of informed residents. These progressives started a smear campaign making unfounded accusations against Save Our Town, and the letter writer who first discovered the Charette. Flyers announcing the public meeting were torn down, and threats of boycotts of business where the flyers were posted were issued by the town’s so-called progressives. But their “fear and smear” tactics failed. Save Our Town members started attending selectmen and planning board meeting. In March of this year, Save Our Town put a warrant article on the ballot with three items: Removing the Charette from the town’s master plan, quitting its membership in the Southwest Regional Planning Commission and calling for a vote of the people before the town accepts money from HUD. All three items were approved by an overwhelming margin. In addition, several liberty-minded candidates were elected to town offices. In the wake of this upset, the town’s progressives renewed their smears calling members of Save Our Town “racists” and have made the ridiculous accusation that The John Birch Society has stolen the town using a blog to promote their smear and hatred.
Save our Town demonstrates quite clearly that you can indeed fight city hall. In just a few short months, it overturned the plans of Agenda 21 supporters. Today, Save our Town’s members attend various town meetings, write letters to the editor, and help inform their neighbors of issues important to the town’s future. As the result of a short Youtube interview of Save Our Town’s founder Larry Cleveland, Tom Deweese of American Policy Center has asked him to participate in his national teleconfrences. Save Our Town is both an inspiration, and a model for the rest of the country. Save Our Town has a page on facebook.
Camp Constitution Conducts a Presentation to a Public Elementary School
Last week, Tom Moor and I were invited by the Windemere School PTO in Ellington, CT to give presentations to its fifth and sixth grade classes. This was the first time that Camp Constitution had the opportunity to give classes in a public school. There were over 400 students that got a lesson on the U.S. Constitution from an Americanist perspective. Mr. Moor started the classes with his rendition of “The Preamble Song,” and an overview of our week long family camp. I conducted a power point presentation on the Constitution which included a refutation of some of the myths that the students will or have heard including the misguided notion that the Constitution is outdated, and that it promoted slavery. The students heard, many for the first time, that rights come from God, that the U.S. Constitution does not give rights but protects them, and that the United States is a republic. We asked the students and teachers on hand if they could name their member of the U.S. House of Represenatives. Only one teacher knew. Mr. Moor and I were very well received by both students and teachers.
All of the students and teachers received a pocket size copy of the Constitution and a camp brochure. There is still time to register for our 2014 week-long summer camp which runs from July 13-20.