A conference for teachers.

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Dear
John,
The Kirk Center’s most recent initiative is a seminar for high school teachers based on The Roots of American Order. It has been met with a lot of enthusiasm from teachers and administrators seeking fresh ways to approach historical eras that have suddenly become politically contested. “Pillars of American Order” is the name of this new program and, for teachers that have participated in our early pilot events, it’s been an intellectual oasis in a sea of increasing intolerance and outright bad history.

I’m writing to ask you to help the Kirk Center spread the word about this conference to teachers in your network. We are now accepting applications for the latestPillars of American Order ([link removed]) conference for high school teachers to be held on August 1-4, 2022 in Mecosta.

The brief video below introduces the program’s themes and interviews the first participants about what happens at a Pillars conference. I hope you’ll take a few minutes to view it and that you are heartened by the teachers’ enthusiasm for learning in depth about the great contributions Western civilization has made to America’s constitutional republic.
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The conference essentially follows along the design of The Roots of American Order, which traces the contributions of Hebraic and Christian belief, classical philosophy and law, and the British political experience to the American founding’s achievement of ordered liberty. Each session opens with an explication of a significant historical era by a professor, turns to a Socratic dialogue format, and includes discussions of how best to present the material in high school classrooms.

Teachers come from public, private, and religious high schools across the country to deepen their understanding of the beliefs, institutions, and practices that have shaped American society. All of the teachers who attended the inaugural pilot conference in 2021 reported that it improved their ability to explain the foundations of the American constitutional system. Participant comments included:
* When it comes to teaching the “big picture” of America, Kirk is the best.
* The four visiting professors were lively and knowledgeable. The discussion format really lent itself to an in depth exploration of Roots. Plus, the atmosphere was collegial.
* I am eager to participate in the future. Actually, I was sad that that week had to end!
* Thank you so much for this lovely experience. I know that I will treasure it for my whole life.

By increasing the teachers’ historical and civic knowledge, the conference prepared them to better communicate to their students the moral and social order that supports America’s free and prosperous society. As you know, this intellectual formation is urgently needed in schools today.

Teachers also received continuing education or clock hour credits which they definitely appreciated given the dreary and politicized courses they typically have to sit through to gain such required professional credits.

The application form for this summer’s Pillars conference is availableon this page ([link removed]) . Space is limited, so if you know a middle or high school teacher who would be interested in attending, please encourage them to apply soon. Questions about the registration process or conference details may be emailed to [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]?subject=Pillars%20Conference%20inquiry) .
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In this month’s Classic Kirk essay, Conserving Order, Justice, and Freedom ([link removed]) , Russell Kirk examines the nature and purpose of the U. S. Constitution, continuing to develop themes he articulated in The Roots of American Order:

“The Constitution of the United States was and is rooted in the experience and the thought of earlier times—which is a major reason why the American Constitution has not perished or been supplanted by some different political system.”

America’s mission, as Kirk and one of his exemplars, Orestes Brownson, show is to reconcile the claims of liberty and law. No order is perfect, but the American tradition of ordered liberty remains a model for us and the world.

Please help us spread the word ([link removed]) to middle and high school teachers about our “Pillars” program so that they may explore for themselves, and then with their students, the remarkable and ongoing story of American civilization.

Sincerely,

Jeffrey O. Nelson
Executive Director & CEO
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