BRI's Educator Newsletter

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At noon tomorrow, Joseph R. Biden, Jr. will take the oath of office to become the 46th President of the United States on the steps of the Capitol building, the site where two weeks earlier a mob stormed the building in an attempt to stop the certification of the Electoral College vote. All of this has taken place during a deadly pandemic, and as an unprecedented second impeachment trial looms in the U.S. Senate for the 45th president, Donald J. Trump. How will you be discussing these events with your students? We hope the resources in this playlist ([link removed]) will provide some historical context for the lively classroom conversations that you are sure to have in the coming days.

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As we approach the Inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden, BRI Staff Kirk Higgins and Joshua Schmid look back at the famous inaugural speech of John F. Kennedy and discuss his timeless messages that still apply today.

BRI Lessons and Resources

Presidential Inaugurations, Past and Present
In our newest eLesson ([link removed]) , students will analyze historic texts and visuals to find common themes as well as important differences when comparing different inaugurations.

Impeachment Proceedings
In this lesson ([link removed]) , students will analyze the impeachment clause of the Constitution to understand the role Congress plays in impeachment proceedings.

Civic Friendship: “I am rooting hard for you”
In this Lesson ([link removed]) , students will explore the importance of character traits like humility and respect in the individuals who hold public office and how commitment to the rule of law has sustained the executive branch throughout the country’s history.

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How does a constitutional presidency reflect admirable qualities, and, alternatively, how can a "populist presidency" degrade the office? In a two-part series, BRI Senior Teacher Fellow Tony Williams is joined by author and professor in the National Security Affairs Department at the Naval War College, Stephen Knott, to explore these questions by looking back at the most significant presidents in American history and how they defined their times in office.

BRI News and Other Opportunities
Contesting Perceived Flaws in a Constitutional System
This week, our Think the Vote debate platform is taking on a new format. Our country has a long history of citizens fighting to have our constitutional system better live up to the values that all Americans hold dear. This week, we would like students to answer the question: ** What is the best way that Americans can contest perceived flaws in a constitutional system of government? ([link removed])
The students and their referring teachers who make the strongest case for their position will win gift cards and Bill of Rights Institute swag.

#briteachertime: A New Educator Community Building Activity
We're starting a new live YouTube show for teachers that is all about connecting with fellow educators from around the country, utilizing the digital environment we're all living in these days. From our work in the past two decades, we know that there are so many talented and amazing educators across the nation. It's our goal to connect us all together. Teachers who attend regularly will be able to help shape the future of the show by inspiring the selection of future topics and guests. ** Register here. ([link removed])

New Podcast Episode | Technology: Progress or Pain?
In a world of Zoom, Netflix, and automation, technology is all around us. ** In this new episode of Fabric of History, ([link removed])
Mary, Gary, and Eryn take a look at the most significant technological changes across history—from the wheel to the Dot-com era—to understand human reaction to change. Does technological change always equal progress, or does it present new challenges? What happens to those who don’t want to adapt?
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Join us for a new live broadcast every Monday morning on YouTube and Facebook as our Director of Outreach, Rachel Davison Humphries, introduces you to everything happening at BRI and how it all relates to our constitutional principles.

Educator Spotlight
Meet Felix Yerace!
One of the central themes of Felix Yerace's career is leadership and fostering leadership skills among the young people he works with is one of his passions. In addition to teaching at South Fayette High School in McDonald, Pennsylvania for the last fifteen years, he has also served as the assistant executive director and Advanced Gold Summer Camp co-director for the Pennsylvania Association of Student Councils since January of 2018** ...Read More. ([link removed])


BoE: Bottom of Email

Dear John,

What a week to be a civics teacher. As I mentioned in my episode of "** This Week in Civics ([link removed])
" I am not sure that there has been a fuller week in my career in education: Martin Luther King, Jr., the second impeachment proceedings ever in a presidency, and the inauguration of a new president all in three days! How are you helping your students through this week? I would love to hear from you.

We started with Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and his amazing legacy of action. MLK Jr. was always an inspiring figure in my teaching and I had many of his quotes up in my classroom, but this one struck me most this year:

“It may well be that we will have to repent in this generation. Not merely for the vitriolic words and the violent actions of the bad people, but for the appalling silence and indifference of the good people who sit around and say, ‘Wait on time.’ Somewhere we must come to see that human progress never rolls in on the wheels of inevitability. It comes through the tireless efforts and the persistent work of dedicated individuals who are willing to be co-workers with God. And without this hard work, time itself becomes an ally of the primitive forces of social stagnation. So we must help time and realize that the time is always ripe to do right.” (From his fantastic, ** " ([link removed])
** Remaining Awake Through a Great Revolution" ([link removed])
speech at the National Cathedral, 1968)

Then we have the impeachment proceedings. I recently learned about the "late impeachment." Are you able to touch on this in your class? How are you doing that? And we have the inauguration of the new president...but without the. crowds and energy that usually comes with the start of a new administration.(** We put together a playlist for you and your students ([link removed])
.) It is a lot!

I would love to know how you are working through it all, personally, professionally, with your families, with your students. Reach out on Twitter and tell us how we can help!

So much warmth and energy to you all this week. You can do it. We can help.

Warmly,
Rachel Davison Humphries
Director, Outreach
Bill of Rights Institute
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