We the People National Academy

The Center for the Constitution and the Center for Civic Education provide a wide range of professional development options for teachers.

July 7-28, 2007, Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles, CA

The Center for Civic Education, through a grant provided by the National Endownment for the Humanities, is pleased to announce a three-week National Academy for educators from public and private elementary, middle, and high schools to be held at Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles, California. The Academy will provide twenty-five American and ten international educators the opportunity to engage in serious study and seminar-style discussion of basic issues of political theory and the values and principles of American constitutional democracy. Applications are due March 1, 2007, with notification of acceptance by April 1, 2007.

Participants will study major works of political theory such as Aristotle's Politics, Cicero's Republic, Hobbes's Leviathan, Locke's Second Treatise, The Federalist, Anti-federalist writings, and U.S. Supreme Court opinions. Educators will discuss the challenges of teaching this material and meeting the goals of the We the People programs, the National Standards for Civics and Government, and An International Framework for Education in Democracy .

The director of the Institute/Academy is Professor Will Harris of the University of Pennsylvania. Professor Harris is also the Director of the Center for the Constitution, James Madison’s Montpelier. Professor Harris writes and teaches in the field of constitutional studies and democratic theory. Three preceptors will assist Professor Harris and participate in seminar discussion.

Please download our application form to apply for participation in the National Academy.