Some good news. I am happy to introduce you to the Ashbrook Center’s Presidential Academy for American History and Civics. This two-week long seminar next summer--in three cities--will lead secondary school teachers in a careful study of the pivotal turning points in American history memorialized by the Declaration of Independence, the Gettysburg Address, and the "I Have a Dream" speech. The famous words in the three core documents raise, with a distinctively American poetry, the most significant issues of self-government in our constitutional democracy. We think that the story that links these three pivotal turning points together is the American story. When you study the site, note the faculty (Morel, Flannery, Guelzo, Kesler, Fischer, Lloyd, McPherson, Williams) as well as the readings and syllabus. I hope you will agree that it’s pretty good stuff. Pass it on to your favorite high school teachers. They can apply on-line.

This program stems out of an initiative by Senator Lamar Alexander and became a part of the American History and Civics Education Act of 2004. Its purpose is to support--through seminars and workshops--teachers of American history and civics by strengthening their knowledge of their subject. We look forward to conducting the Presidential Academy for the next five years. Indeed, we are honored to do so.