Education

‘Founders’ Fables’: Mom Says 7-Year-Olds Know What ‘Conservative’ Means Thanks to Children’s Books

Posted on June 8, 2012 at 7:01pm by Liz Klimas
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Laurie Cockerell, a Texas mom, will proudly tell you her 7-year-old twins know what the world “conservative” means. After all, she has been reading to them about it since they were 3 or 4 years old.

Cockerell authored a series called “Founders’ Fables“ that teach lessons to ”young patriots” based on principles of “limited government.” CBS Local in Dallas-Fort Worth reports that Cockerell was recently selling her books at the State Republican Convention.

Texas Mom Sells Founders Fables to Educate Elementary School Audience on Conservative Values

(Image: Founders' Fables)

According to her website, the 10 fables comprising the 48-page book address topics like the national debt; private enterprise and government intervention; socialism; outsourcing; free speech; and independence and self-reliance.

CBS has more from Cockerell on her books:

“If you look at public schools today, they’re not getting the conservative message there and I think we have to have something to combat that,” Cockerell said from her booth Thursday.

She developed the books to “instill and encourage the conservative values of the founding fathers” to the elementary student audience.

One of books available online as a sample — The Water Park — tells the tale of a colony of ducks who went into debt putting in a duck pond, given the deal they made with the beaver builders. Even later generations of ducks were still paying the beavers as the pond became old and fell into disrepair. After the story, Cockerell then includes some discussion questions for parent and child, like “would you take money from your baby brother or sister’s piggy bank to pay for something you bought long ago for yourself?”

CBS also reports Cockerell saying that the election this year has boost her sales of the $10 paperback book. The book was first released in 2010.

Read more about Founders’ Fables here.

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Comments (36)

1forthegoodguy
Posted on June 10, 2012 at 2:05am
Ooops. Cockerell states that children enrolled in public schools are not getting the “conservative message of our founding fathers.” Maybe that‘s because that message wasn’t conservative. The founding fathers wanted America to be free….free from religious oppression, our government to be free from religious interference, and our rights to speak our mind, however distasteful, to not be impinged. They also wanted our Constitution to look out for the “little guy.” The powerful (whether that power is coming from wealth or political power) should not step on those who aren’t powerful. These aren’t values that “conservatives” share. Presently, conservatives would like to instill evangelical Christianity into our governmental workings, would like to curb dissenter’s ability to voice their beliefs (only the ones they don’t like to hear/see, like the OWS protesters, any anti war protesters, etc. Looking out for those who are not as powerful as those who have wealth and power in our country isn’t (or doesn’t seem to be) a cause that the “conservative” supports.
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- Ghandi was a Republican
  Posted on June 10, 2012 at 3:00pm
  False: The U.S. Constitution is found on the fundamental of GOD GIVEN RIGHTS. That is not forcing anything on anyone. Unless you think nobody has God giver rights. Atheism is a progressive concept that nobody has a soul, nor rights thereof. Which one uses the application of force?
  Report Post »
- Ghandi was a Republican
  Posted on June 10, 2012 at 3:12pm
  And your last assertion is incredibly naive. The Government has nothing with which to provide anyone anything. Government is corrupt. The bigger the Govt, the more corrupt it becomes. The more power the more the individuals within Government will become corrupt. Just look at any Government in the World. The more centralized, the bigger, the more corrupt, the worse for everyone except the Govt, elites, bureaucrats, anyone in a bribable position of influence will become on big cesspool. ALWAYS! Without exception!
  Capitalism asks: What can “I” do to provide for others! It is the fundamental question for success! Earnings (evil profits) allow you to support your endeavor as you see fit. You don’t like it- punch a clock and follow another dream!
  Report Post »
donaldchar
Posted on June 9, 2012 at 9:44pm
Good for you, Laurie! Just don’t fool yourself – the “public” schools became government schools long ago, We, the public, are no longer allowed to run “our” schools, to have a say in how our children are being taught and propagandized. Don‘t wonder why our children’s test scores are dropping internationally. School administrations seem more oligarchies than our representatives.
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betterthantv
Posted on June 9, 2012 at 2:31pm
Very cool. Thanks!
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Iam4America
Posted on June 9, 2012 at 12:21pm
This is the kind of thing I have been looking for. As a grandparent, I give books and having something like this is fantastic! We need to educate our children with the facts and truth to keep America free!
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EP46
Posted on June 9, 2012 at 6:49am
I wish someone really good at games would come up with a Monopoly type game for capitalism….show how one works to achieve their dreams.
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- TulsaYeeHaw
  Posted on June 9, 2012 at 7:17am
  Try Cashflow by Robert Kyosaki. It is interesting.
  Report Post »
- The Giver
  Posted on June 9, 2012 at 8:36am
  I think that Monopoly itself is an example of capitalism with respect to property rights.
  
  I wish that we could stop paying taxes for the “public” schools as long as they are pushing a political agenda. When they get back to teaching the three R’s then they get our money. Why should we as taxpayers/parents continue to allow this? Reading lists that are communist? Why should this mom have to write books to offset the BS coming out of the schools. These public schools are only for the leftist public. The Conservative public is silenced. That’s true BULLYING! Our children need a voice at school.
  Report Post »
Sol Invictus
Posted on June 9, 2012 at 3:29am
Another ad – that’s 2 today. Thought this was supposed to be a news site.
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- EP46
  Posted on June 9, 2012 at 6:54am
  We must support capitalism……….otherwise we have State news…..government ‘facts’ !
  Report Post »
- EqualJustice
  Posted on June 9, 2012 at 8:21am
  Old SOL has a problem with CAPITALISM and RELIGION and I’m sure I could probably add guns to the list? He does NOT, however, have a problem with using ALINKSY tactics when he responds and he’s very good at it!
  Report Post »
- Sol Invictus
  Posted on June 9, 2012 at 10:17am
  @Equaljustice
  You‘ve been smoking your brother in law’s weed again haven’t you? My post had nothing to do with capitalism, even less with religion and **** all to do with guns. I said that ads should be in the ads section not the news – if you‘ve got a problem with that you’re sadder than I thought.
  Report Post »
The Third Archon
Posted on June 9, 2012 at 3:08am
“One of books available online as a sample — The Water Park — tells the tale of a colony of ducks who went into debt putting in a duck pond, given the deal they made with the beaver builders. Even later generations of ducks were still paying the beavers as the pond became old and fell into disrepair. After the story, Cockerell then includes some discussion questions for parent and child, like “would you take money from your baby brother or sister’s piggy bank to pay for something you bought long ago for yourself?”
How can conservatives simultaneously decry “debt” (i.e. the ENTIRE mechanism upon which finance operates) out of one side of their mouth, then laud capitalism out of the OTHER side of their mouth?
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The Third Archon
Posted on June 9, 2012 at 3:04am
“‘FOUNDERS’ FABLES’: MOM SAYS 7-YEAR-OLDS KNOW WHAT ‘CONSERVATIVE’ MEANS THANKS TO CHILDREN’S BOOKS”
Yes, because children’s books are an excellent source of factual history.
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- AmericanPatriot
  Posted on June 9, 2012 at 3:15pm
  Hey, it’s a start!
  Report Post »
americanfirst
Posted on June 9, 2012 at 1:30am
Please buy this book and share it with your children and reading time at schools.
You won’t regret it!

Cypress, Texas
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Innocent
Posted on June 9, 2012 at 12:53am
Books and media influence how we view the world. We are the sum of every thought, concept, idea, and story we experience. Books, if written correctly, lead a person to question, and yes even children’s books can do so. One of the things I now regret is that there are not more stories that challenge children to think, rather, they tell the children what to think. To be honest I have this book and have found it to be a good book and my children enjoy it.

To those that simply want to decry it as propaganda beware the pointed finger, or as Christ put it, “Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold , a beam is in thine own eye?”

Pick up a copy, read it, then critic it. I am tired of kid books that ONLY entertain, I want them to be good for them on a higher level then that.
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dontbotherme
Posted on June 8, 2012 at 11:28pm
Good start for kids.
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Mikev5
Posted on June 8, 2012 at 8:07pm
thekuligs

You sound like you have lost something what is it? Think hard now
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macpappy
Posted on June 8, 2012 at 8:05pm
Every parent should be able to choose which line of propaganda they want their kids fed. Liberal, Conservative, Libertarian, etc. etc.
Really, you should teach your kids to read it all, filter it through the morals you have taught them, then make up their own minds.
Free thinking at an early age is a good thing.
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Git-R-Done
Posted on June 8, 2012 at 7:45pm
Those kinds of books are great for children to read.
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RomanCatholicatSluggyFreelance99
Posted on June 8, 2012 at 7:43pm
The very idea of understanding the deep concepts that make up America and the reasons for its importance, in a picture book is laughable.But it is a start in the proper education of the youth in this nation.
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marybethelizabeth
Posted on June 8, 2012 at 7:28pm
Training the next batch of schoolyard bullies.

Which page says accountability is for the other kid? Probably all of them.
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- Psychosis
  Posted on June 8, 2012 at 7:31pm
  LIBS ARE THE BULLIES
  
  you have issues dear
  Report Post »
- lukerw
  Posted on June 8, 2012 at 7:42pm
  Law defines the Punishments for Specific Violations… being the Accountablity in the American System. On the other hand, in a Free Society… Choice included a Risk Evaluation, where the Results are a Self Responsiblity.
  
  The World consists of various forms of Evil… and it is the Parental Obligation to Teach their Children to prepare them for This Reality… not to provide Myths of Fabled Lands, where everyone lives in Peace & Harmony!
  Report Post »
- encinom
  Posted on June 8, 2012 at 7:43pm
  The only Founder’s Fables are the ones BArton and Beck spew.
  Report Post »
- macpappy
  Posted on June 8, 2012 at 8:01pm
  It’s enough to make a trolls head explode, huh?
  Report Post »
thekuligs
Posted on June 8, 2012 at 7:15pm
Look, I love books. I’m an author. Besides being a mother and wife, books are what I do. That being said, you aren’t going to teach your child what being conservative means with a pile of books. All the words in the English language aren’t enough with out action.

So, good first step. Not enough follow through.
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- Mikev5
  Posted on June 8, 2012 at 7:49pm
  You misjudge the power of books on kids and the power of a simple TV cartoon the one that influenced me the most was called Davey and Goliath®
  
  Learning morals and not even knowing it all I know is it made me feel good so I learned
  Report Post »
- Mikev5
  Posted on June 8, 2012 at 7:53pm
  A link http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Davey_and_Goliath
  Report Post »
- klevalt
  Posted on June 8, 2012 at 7:53pm
  …. right! The follow throught is for the PARENTS… No one else…. It doesn’t take a village to raise MY kids!
  Report Post »
- thekuligs
  Posted on June 8, 2012 at 7:56pm
  Mikev5- Many people in the world know if a thing is right or wrong but never do anything to protect, to uphold what they know to be moral. Knowing something and possessing the ability to execute it are differnt things entirely.
  Report Post »
- Mikev5
  Posted on June 8, 2012 at 7:59pm
  Have you ever watched one episode do it I dare you.
  Report Post »
- marybethelizabeth
  Posted on June 8, 2012 at 8:06pm
  Klevant that‘s odd that you would make that comment today right after Glenn Beck said that when he was young in his father’s bakery his relatives and even total strangers there as customers would reprimand him for his misdeeds.
  
  It’s OK for a village to raise Mr. Beck and his Keys.
  It’s just not OK for a Democratic Party leader to say it.
  Report Post »
- Mikev5
  Posted on June 8, 2012 at 8:12pm
  marybethelizabeth
  
  We are all raised by the people around us but our parents have the last say as to what is good or bad.
  
  The world teaches us we have no choice it is what it is who did you look up to as a kid?
  
  That’s the answer
  Report Post »

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