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For 29 Years The Teaching Home Has Been Providing Home-School Families
Information, Inspiration, and Encouragement from a Distinctively Christian Perspective.
Co-Editors: Veteran Home-School Sisters, Sue Welch and Cindy Short
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 We the People of
the United States, in Order to form a more
perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common
defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of
Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this
Constitution for the United States of
America. Preamble to the Constitution
for the United States of America
Parental Rights Amendment |
Parental Rights:
Make a Difference During Constitution
Week
J. Michael Smith
Home School Legal Defense Association
President
In celebration of Constitution
Week, ParentalRights.org
has planned a
major push in the campaign to amend the
Constitution to include
fundamental parental rights. A major call-in blitz to Congress is
scheduled during Constitution Week, urging
members to cosponsor the Parental
Rights Amendment. 1. Check ParentalRights.org's lists
of 116
House cosponsors and 5 Senate
cosponsors. If your representative
is already a sponsor, don't call them!
Consider mailing them a message of thanks
instead. 2. If your congressman or senator is
not on the list, go to the States
Watch page and click on your state to
find their contact information. 3. Call your congressman and ask
him to sign on to cosponsor H.J. Res. 42, the
Parental Rights Amendment, to protect
parental rights and American and state
sovereignty. 4. Call your senators and urge them
to cosponsor S.J. Res. 16, the Parental
Rights Amendment, to protect parental rights
and American and state sovereignty. 5. Call or email friends and family
and urge them to join you in calling their
congressman and senators throughout the week. Read more at www.hslda.org. "It does not require a majority to
prevail, but rather an irate, tireless
minority keen to set brush fires in people's
minds."
– Samuel Adams
 HSLDA offers homeschooling families
a low-cost method of obtaining quality legal
defense that gives them the freedom to
homeschool without having to face legal
threats alone. (Use discount
group number 299142 for $20 off your
membership fee.) Our Family Nights
In response to your request for Family
Night suggestions, I would like to share my
family's tradition.
We have set aside Friday nights as Family
Nights. We try to schedule other activities
around them. If something unavoidable comes
up for a Friday, then we have Family Night on
Saturday that week. We always make homemade pizza (with
individual topping requests) and have ice
cream. We take turns selecting the activity for
the evening. Each person gets a turn to
choose what we do, and there is no arguing
with the chooser. This means that even if
someone doesn't like what has been chosen for
that week, she knows that she can choose
something that she does like when it's her
turn. We usually end up playing a board game, a
backyard game, or watching a movie. We've also had some variety of activities,
which have included each person selecting
his/her favorite "Adventures in Odyssey"
episode to listen to, going out for ice
cream, and watching home videos of when the
children were little.
We have enjoyed having the consistency and
predictability of the Friday Night Family
Night. We have also created some wonderful
memories. Submitted by Kathy D. Thank You!
Hello! I am happy to take this moment to tell you
that I have truly enjoyed your newsletter. I have found it encouraging, useful,
thoughtful and helpful. I have created unit studies from them,
found some excellent websites, and it has
helped me to stay on track. Thank you!
Most sincere blessings,
Alissa We trust that you find this newsletter
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Back Issues
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Always-Relevant
Teaching Home Back IssuesFifty-one back issues are offered online
or by mail order. The information, inspiration, and
encouragement packed into
each back issue never goes out of date.
They
are always
relevant, applicable to your needs today. Order securely online. Spelling Test
Jessica, 6, was playing "school" one
day. Seated at the table with paper and
pencil, she was writing a list of her most
newly learned words. After a bit she said, "Mother, how do you
spell cat?" I slowly and
distinctly spelled c-a-t, delighted
she would ask my help rather than misspell a
word. I realized the tables were turned, however,
when she matter-of-factly said, "Very good,
Mother. Now try dog."Submitted by Susan W., Texas. Send your humorous anecdote to publisher@teachinghome.com.
Immerse your family in God's truth through
systematic reading and study of God's Word. See The Teaching Home's Bible reading
schedule online at TeachingHome.com.
Christian Music Online 24/7!Listen to beautiful traditional, sacred,
and inspirational conservative Christian
music (commercial free!) when you tune in to
Abiding Radio at www.AbidingRadio.com. Also: Old
Christian Radio.
Because we have been separated from God by
sin, Jesus Christ died in our place, then
rose to life again. If we trust Him as
our Savior and Lord, He will forgive our sin
and give us eternal life. "For God so loved the world, that He gave
His only begotten Son, that whoever believes
in Him shall not perish, but have eternal
life." (John 3:16) "For all have sinned and fall short of the
glory of God." (Romans 3:23) "For
the wages of sin is death." (Romans
6:23) "He (Jesus Christ) was delivered over to
death for our sins and was raised to life for
our justification." (Romans 4:25) "But as many as received Him, to them He
gave the right to become children of God,
even to those who believe in His name."
(John 1:12) "For by grace you have been saved through
faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the
gift of God; not as a result of works, that
no one should boast." (Ephesians 2:8,
9) We need your help! Please help us make this newsletter better
by letting us know what we are doing
correctly, where we need to improve, and
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Constitution Week: September 17-23
1. An
Overview
The Nature and Influence
of the US Constitution
2. The
Facts
Studying the U.S.
Constitution
3.
Relevance
Basis for America's Laws
4. Biblical
Principles
Basis for America's Laws
Sidebar
Parental Rights Amendment
Recommended Resources
• Hewitt Homeschooling:
Lightning Literature
• Living Books Curriculum:
Start-up Pack
• Logos Language
Institute: Foreign Language Study
• Candy 4WAY Phonics
Program: Systematic Phonics
Greetings,
Constitution Day (September 17) and
Constitution Week (September 17-23)
commemorate the signing of the U.S.
Constitution on September 17, 1787. President Eisenhower proclaimed the first
Constitution Week in 1956. In December, 2004, Senator Robert Byrd
attached a provision to the Consolidated
Appropriations which mandated that all school
districts receiving federal funding must
instruct students on the U.S. Constitution on
September 17th or the following week. Home-school parents are not required by
law to teach their children about the
Constitution, but surely we see the
importance of teaching our children about our
nation's Christian heritage and Constitution,
as well as how it affects our lives today. You can also teach and show your children
that they can be a part of history in
supporting efforts to add the Parental Rights
Amendment to our Constitution (see
information in the sidebar at the left). May the Lord bless your family for His
glory.
Cordially,
The Pat Welch Family, Publishers
Pat, Sue, Heather, Holly, and Brian
The Teaching
Home is a home-school, family-run
business operated in our home since 1980.
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An Overview
1. The Nature and Influence
of the US
Constitution
by Former President George W. Bush
Excepted from a proclamation.
Today, we marvel at the wisdom of the
Framers who toiled through a long summer of
learned and contentious debates. Their work produced a document that
upholds high ideals, while answering the most
practical questions of governance. The
charter they crafted — with its separate
branches of Government, enumerated powers,
checks and balances, and later the specific
protections provided by our Bill of Rights
—
guides our Nation and inspires others around
the world.
Twin Foundations
As the delegates to the 1787
Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia
began working on what would become the United
States Constitution, they grasped that a
great democracy must be built on the twin
foundations of:
•
National consent to a Federal Government
•
Respect for individual rights.
Balance of Powers
In creating our Nation's Constitutional
framework, the Convention's delegates
recognized the dangers inherent in
concentrating too much power in one person,
branch, or institution. They wisely crafted a Government that
balanced the functions and authority of a
Federal system among three separate but equal
branches:
•
The Executive
•
The Legislative
•
The Judicial. As a further check on central power, the
Framers granted citizens the right to vote,
giving them the power to express their
political preferences peacefully and thereby
to effect change in the Government. The Convention delegates ratified the
Constitution on September 17, 1787, and
submitted it to the States for approval.
Bill of Rights
After much deliberation and discussion at
the State level, the following two concerns
emerged from among those who feared the
Constitution's proposed centralization of
Federal power:
•
The threat of tyranny
•
The loss of local control. To address these fears, our Founders
amended the Constitution by adding a Bill of
Rights. These ten amendments provided a series of
clear limits on Federal power and a litany of
protective rights to citizens. Today, our Nation celebrates the
longest-lived written Constitution in world
history.
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The Facts
2. Studying the U.S. Constitution
The Constitution of the United States is
the foundation of our American
Government. As
the supreme law of the land, no law may be
passed that contradicts its principles, and
no person or government in the nation is
exempt from following it. •
Read, study and discuss the Constitution. •
Read the Constitution along
with explanations. •
See Ben's
Guide to U.S. Government for Students.
Free Online Lessons
The Center for Civic Education offers
free lessons for Constitution Day and
Citizenship Day. These are beautifully produced pdf files
with illustrated stories, questions,
worksheets, activities, and teacher's guides.
You may download
and print them. Audio guides are also
available. •
Kindergarten - study of
authority. (30 pages) •
Level 1-2 - study of
authority. (34 pages) •
Level 3-4 - Preamble to the
Constitution. (10 pages) •
Level 5-6 - Preamble to the
Constitution. (12 pages) •
Level 7-8 - the federal system of government.
(12 pages) •
Level 9-10 - the Constitution as a framework
for the government. (14 pages) •
Level 11-12 - involves students in critical
thinking exercises involving fundamental
principles of the Constitution. (17 pages)
The Signers
Be sure to include a study of the brave
men who labored to "create a more perfect
union" and crafted our nation's Constitution. • See
bios on all 39 signers of the
Constitution. • Read
quotes from many of these founding
fathers which testify to their faith. • Look
at nine
visual interpretations of the
Constitutional Convention, including the most
well known painting, "Scene
at the Signing of the Constitution," by
Howard Chandler Christy and the
chart which identifies the signers.
Ultimate Field Trips
• Join
the celebration at the National
Constitution Center in Philadelphia
September 17, 2009. Many learning
activities. • Or
join a virtual
field trip of National Constitution
Center in Philadelphia live on September 17
at 9:00 a.m • Celebrate
Constitution Week at the United
States Capitol. Many opportunities
to learn about the Constitution.
Resources for Further Study and
Application
• The
Founders' Constitution,
"The Oxford English Dictionary of American,
Constitutional
History,"
anthology of original historical documents.
• Civics
Education Courses from Home
School Legal Defense Association.
Includes: Founding Fathers, Introduction to
Constitutional Law, The Federalist Papers,
Declaration of Independence, and more. • The
Federalist Papers Online. One of the
most important works on political
theory ever written. • Enlightened
Democracy by Tara Ross. Understand the
Constitution
and the basic tenets that undergird America's
republican democracy. Free Study
Guide. Colonial
Press • Naturalization
Self Test.
Could your children (or you) pass the test
to become a citizen? Test your knowledge of
United States History and the structure of
our government on this easy-to-use online
question and answer interactive site.
Ideal for Christian Home Schoolers |
Logos Language Institute
is an evangelistic ministry which equips
Christians
to witness and minister in foreign
languages.
 • Intro packets
in 21
languages
• Low cost
($15-$23 each)
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• Self-study books
and tapes or CDs
• Use alone or with
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• 6-level program in Spanish
• Everyday and spiritual /
biblical vocabulary
• Ideal for short-term
missions, homeschool
|
Relevance
3. Current Issues
Involving the
Constitution
The First Amendment
and the "Separation of Church and State"
The First Amendment to the Constitution
does not include the phrase "separation of
church and state." Nowhere does it suggest
that Christianity cannot be heard in the
public square. In fact, the first act of the United
States Congress was to authorize the printing
of 20,000 Bibles for the Indians. Historian David Barton says, "The
'separation' phrase so frequently invoked
today was rarely mentioned by any of the
Founders; and even Jefferson's explanation of
his phrase is diametrically opposed to the
manner in which courts apply it today.
'Separation of church and state' currently
means almost exactly the opposite of what it
originally meant." Read more by David Barton at www.christiananswers.net
and www.wallbuilders.com.
Judicial Interpretation of the
Constitution
The subject of constitutional
interpretation is a valid and practical
concern today that will reach into many areas
of our lives for years to come.
Two competing viewpoints have emerged: 1.
To follow the original intent of the
Constitution. 2.
To allow judges to interpret the Constitution
as they will. •
Read "A
Tale of Two Constitutions" by David
Barton as well as a variety of articles from
Wall
Builders on the moral, religious, and
constitutional foundation on which America
was built. •
Read a discussion of judicial activism, "Judicial
Philosophy," by Focus on the Family issue
analysts.
Delegation of Powers
Is a federal health care program
constitutional? Read author and
historian David Barton's answer in an Aug.
27, 2009, news
article.
The Candy 4WAY Phonics Program –
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• Flashcards /
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• 82-Page How to Teach
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• Multisensory Vowel Charts
– and so much more.
|
Biblical Principles
4. Basis for America's Laws
Excerpted and reprinted by permission from
an article by Charles and Cindy Meek, www.faithfacts.org. Christians believe that the Bible offers
ultimate, objective, and absolute truth.
There was a general consensus on this point
in America from the earliest settlers until
only very recently. Thus it was natural for the early
Americans to turn to the Bible for guidance
as to how to make civil law. This was the
standard for law beginning with the Mayflower
Compact all the way through the constitutions
of all 50 states.
State Constitutions
For example, the first state constitution
was the Fundamental Orders of Connecticut
(1639). Read this document. The framers of this document desired that
every aspect of it be based on the Bible.
This document was a model for other
constitutions including the U.S. Constitution
which followed it. (See other Preambles
to State Constitutions.)
Rule of Law
Another aspect of our system of government
is that it is based on the Rule of Law.
This
concept is a direct descendant of Hebrew law
and the Ten Commandments. Together with the concept of inalienable
rights from God, these concepts helped ensure
a way of life that respected the dignity of
every individual.
The True Nature of Man
Another important aspect of America's
constitution is that it has as its basis the
distinctly Christian idea that man is
basically sinful. Every one of our founding
fathers understood this truth. The
result was
that the founders built into the Constitution
an elaborate system of checks and balances. This is evident in the horizontal plane of
executive, legislative, and judicial branches
of government. It is also evident in the
vertical plane of federalism - states' powers
versus federal powers. See a chart
of the influence of Biblical thought on
America's legal system with Bible
references.
Resources for Further Study and
Application
Newsletter
#245: Christian Citizenship
Includes information and links:
• Biblical Basis for Human Government
• Our National Heritage
• Political Action
• Our Family's Contribution
• God's prescribed method of political
action
• The only real way to influence our
nation
American
Heritage Series (DVD Set)
Historian David Barton tells the true story
of our nation's Christian history.
America's
Godly Heritage (DVD)
Clearly sets forth the beliefs of many of the
famous Founding Fathers concerning the proper
role of Christian principles in education, in
government, and in the public affairs of the
nation.
A
Nation Adrift (DVD)
"A Chronicle of America's Providential
Heritage" is the true story of how God's
sovereign
hand guided the founders of America. |
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