Hillsdale College Opens Constitution Course to the Public — For Free!
- Posted on February 14, 2012 at 5:25pm by
Liz Klimas
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During this election year, candidates have begun throwing around terms like the founding fathers, progressivism and the U.S. Constitution, but how many Americans actually know what they mean and the heritage behind the founding of the supreme law of the United States? Hillsdale College, an academic institution committed to “pursing truth and defending liberty,” plans on telling you.
The Michigan-based college is offering a free, online 10-week course beginning Feb. 20. Constitution 101: The Meaning and History of the Constitution sets out to provide participants with an understanding and ability to defend the “timeless principles of liberty” upon which the nation was founded.
Dr.David Bobb
In an interview with The Blaze, Dr. David Bobb — director of Hillsdale College’s Allan P. Kirby Center for Constitutional Studies and Citizenship located in Washington, D.C. — said the impetus for the course was first and foremost because people had asked for it.
“There are people who love this country but can’t explain why,” Bobb said. “We want to try and give them that ability.”
Bobb explains how the course drives participants to primary source documents, citing that people want “the meat [of the subject], not just the gruel” — gruel referring to a boiled down interpretation. He also said that the course was designed to not set a political presupposition of its participants.
“We are trying to put before people a choice,” Bobb said, noting the choice is between interpreting the Constitution according to that of its original founding or that of progressive values.
U.S. Constitution is a course required of all students attending Hillsdale College, as part of the core curriculum, making it one of only a handful of schools requiring this class. Bobb said Hillsdale, the military academies and a few other institutions require a full semester on the Constitution. If participants of the online course were to take it at the college, Bobb values it as worth about $2,500 in tuition.
In an email about the course, Hillsdale College President Larry Arnn wrote that he believes in the current political atmosphere the Constitution is being “ignored”, its principles “violated”. He writes:
Dr. Larry Arnn
The century-old attack on the Constitution, that continues today, has threatened to undermine our hard-won liberties and is reducing American citizens to subservience to an ever-expanding federal bureaucracy.
Our choice of whether to recover the principles of liberty and limited government under the Constitution will determine if we will remain self-governing citizens or become dependent subjects ruled by unelected bureaucrats.
That‘s why Hillsdale College is committed to restoring and reviving the public’s understanding of the Constitution, once again making it the central focus of American government.
[...]
If our republic does not reverse course, we may not be able to reclaim the liberty that has been lost, and we will lose the liberty we still have.
Constitution 101, Bobb said, builds upon a four-course study produced by the college for public consumption in 2011. This program garnered more than 180,000 participants and Bobb said Constitution 101 already has tens of thousands registered.
The course is designed such that a lecture will be posted online on Monday. Participants will have the opportunity to ask questions virtually with answers being provided on Wednesday during a Q&A session. In addition to lectures, excerpts from primary documents will be provided and participants will be quizzed on their knowledge.
With George Washington’s birthday coming within the next week, Bobb calls to mind the appropriate nature that this course should be launching around that time.
“Without George Washington you may very well not have the Constitution,” he said. “You may not have the Constitutional Republic for which the U.S. Constitution now stands.”
No credit is provided for this course. Learn more and/or register for the course here. Although the course is offered free of charge, Arnn writes that the class cost nearly $1 million to produce and notes that the college is accepting donations of support.
Full Disclosure: Author Liz Klimas graduated from Hillsdale College in 2009. There she was required, per the college’s core curriculum, to take a course on the U.S. Constitution. Read more about her own thoughts on taking Constitution and the course now being offered to the public here.
This article has been updated since its original posting.
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Comments (63)
DeOppressoLiber
Posted on February 15, 2012 at 11:18amYou can still sign up. It will be a great advantage when you encounter a Truth Team. Now we will have to have Capitalism 101, that lays out our economic system vs crony capitalism, socialism/communism.
Report Post »BrendaB
Posted on February 15, 2012 at 10:33amI thought Barry taught the constitution
Report Post »alrunner58
Posted on February 15, 2012 at 11:06amI don’t think that was the US constitution. It was his own…
Report Post »ConstLaw
Posted on February 16, 2012 at 12:22amDoes anyone have Barry’s personal email address? I want to send him the link to this article so he can sign up and educate himself.
Report Post »W@nd@
Posted on February 15, 2012 at 10:18amHope they offer this again…
Report Post »in the future
for our future
don young
Posted on February 15, 2012 at 10:15amYou will never see obama takeing that coarse he didn,t learn very much when he took it before.
Report Post »bankerpapaw
Posted on February 15, 2012 at 12:41pmWhen did he take it before? I doubt his college transcripts as much as I doubt his birth certificate.
Report Post »colt1860
Posted on February 15, 2012 at 10:24pm@bankerpapaw What college transcripts? He has released any.
Report Post »colt1860
Posted on February 15, 2012 at 10:24pm*hasn’t
Report Post »Ialmostforgot
Posted on February 15, 2012 at 9:17am“There are people who love this country but can’t explain why,” Bobb said.
Report Post »“The same spirit that was in them when they started this country is in me,” I said.
nelsonknew
Posted on February 15, 2012 at 2:22amThe attack on the Constitution is MORE than a century old… it started with Abraham Lincoln.
Report Post »natstew
Posted on February 15, 2012 at 9:45amNELSONKNEW, Lincoln went a long way toward destroying it, but it began with Andrew Jackson.
Report Post »DarthMims
Posted on February 15, 2012 at 12:01pmLincoln and Jackson both did damage to the Constitution, but the first attack came from John Adams with the Alien and Sedition Acts, which made it illegal to say anything bad about the President. Thank God Thomas Jefferson was able to put us back in the right direction.
Report Post »banjarmon
Posted on February 15, 2012 at 1:06amI’m going back to college after 40 years….Thanks Hillsdale!!!!!
Report Post »omgfolks
Posted on February 15, 2012 at 12:20amAWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Get the word out, share it with your friends relative or who ever. WE NEED TO KNOW THIS AND SHARE THIS. We need people to SEE WHAT THEY HAVE LOST ALREADY and move towards regaining our rights which so many have fought and died for.. I APPLAUD YOU FOR YOUR EFFORTS….. Sign me up coach.
Report Post »Workforit
Posted on February 15, 2012 at 12:02amWhat a great Idea! Thanks Hillsdale, I’m in!
Report Post »ZeroOff4impact
Posted on February 14, 2012 at 9:17pmAbsolutely Beatiful .
Report Post »vrooomvrooom
Posted on February 14, 2012 at 8:57pm@ Turin
Report Post »He’s not that intelligent.
Actually, I love reading his posts.
I don’t think that anybody on this site convinces more people that liberty, free market capitalism, limited government, and freedom are good and go hand in hand. Or that communism, marxism, progressivism, socialism and other forms of collectivism are the antithesis of liberty, and reduce people to slaves.
justangry
Posted on February 14, 2012 at 8:33pmAre we allowed to talk about the different theories regarding constitutionism on this site yet?
Report Post »BSdetector
Posted on February 15, 2012 at 7:16amYou’re allowed to talk about whatever comes to mind, JustAngry.
Report Post »If you start spouting progressive bull**** though, we ARE going to call you out on it…
justangry
Posted on February 15, 2012 at 8:21amThat’s not true. I’ve been censored by the Blaze numerous times for advocating a theory held by two of the most conservative Supreme Court Justices (Scalia and Thomas) over a theory the progressives use. It‘s GB’s site, so they can censor what they want, but the motive behind censoring what I’m describing has me puzzled as to their motive. Is he here to educate his flock or to simply lead his sheep? Don’t trust me, do your own homework…
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Originalism
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Living_Constitution
Try posting a comment here comparing the two. If you’re successful, they’ve fixed it. If not, why doesn’t he want people to know?
Report Post »Bottomgun
Posted on February 15, 2012 at 2:59pmIf you base any arguments with facts from wikipedia then you’ve already lost all credibility claiming any factual accuracy. i suggest YOU do your own homework and not rely on an internet wiki supported by so called intellectuals from the progressive academia institutions.
Report Post »justangry
Posted on February 15, 2012 at 3:23pmChill out it’s just a starting point to prove a point. I’m not using it as a primary source. Now if you’re so anal you need a primary source to consider my point… Here’s a short one from the man himself.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DTRe5xDLfXw
Report Post »Bottomgun
Posted on February 15, 2012 at 4:16pmI was really just irked that people (in general) actually think of any wiki as being a reliable source. I’ve used them myself at times and have learned to just gather what ideas and views to point me in a direction for further investigation. As for your original post, I’ve had some of my post just disappear and some that may not have been posted because of a time-out glitch or something. I’m not sure I can say i was censored or not but it bugs me, too.
Report Post »Freedom Keeper
Posted on February 14, 2012 at 8:06pmWhat a great opportunity, especially after so many rights are being stripped from us lately: http://oleglorynews.com/2012/02/14/stolen-liberties/ OLE GLORY NEWS . COM
Report Post »The Third Archon
Posted on February 14, 2012 at 7:58pm“We are trying to put before people a choice,” Bobb said, noting the choice is between interpreting the Constitution according to that of its original founding or that of progressive values.”
Well, it’s not quite that simple a dichotomy–many of the values in the constitution were very progressive in their time, and much of the language remains so. It’s not as simple as “oh well the founding father’s REAL intent was conservatism, but…” and in fact, there was hardly even consensus among the “founding fathers” about any political issue.
But regardless of all that–what is the more important question: what the FOUNDERS wanted, or what is beneficial to the greatest number? Obviously the latter, even many of the FOUNDERS THEMSELVES asserted this.
And why is “Progress” such a dirty world all the sudden–if you hate progress so much, turn off your computer and go back to hunter-gathering…or shut up you fair-weather Luddite.
Report Post »colt1860
Posted on February 14, 2012 at 9:56pmProgress here means the expansion of Government, and concentration of Power into one central State, well known in the ancient, middle ages and modern times. It does not refer to the advancements of society, in regards to science, arts, and technology.
Report Post »sbenard
Posted on February 15, 2012 at 4:21amNot “progress”. “Progressivism”!
Progressivism IS tyranny!
Report Post »lukerw
Posted on February 14, 2012 at 7:41pmBravo!
Report Post »EchoHawk
Posted on February 14, 2012 at 7:07pmConsidering Dr. Bobb’s and Dr. Arnn’s statements, I’m not really expecting much. Oh but then I looked a bit further and discovered these little gems. Hillsdale College is considered a “citadel of American conservatism.” by none other then the National Review, which describes itself as “America’s most widely read and influential magazine and web site for conservative news, commentary, and opinion.”
Report Post »I suppose some congratulations are in order, they didn’t attempt to describe themselves as “fair and balanced”.
EchoHawk
Posted on February 14, 2012 at 7:58pmIt only takes a few minutes for the good Dr. Arnn to reveal this pearl of wisdom. “In the disposition of providence Human beings are not to be trusted to be judges in their own cause and the Constitution of the United States is supposed to stop that.” The context of this comment is that his friend, an outspoken Republican, evangelical Christian, Hue Hewitt was ruled against in a property rights case twenty years ago. The symbol of the the party is well deserved. Let it go.
Report Post »Wool-Free Vision
Posted on February 14, 2012 at 8:45pmWho, exactly, do you think you are “exposing” with these staggering allegations of… what, exactly?
On what Kool-Aid swilling planet is it not a well-known fact that Hillsdale is a stantion of Conservatism in America? I don’t understand your point or your preposterously exaggerated contempt for whatever offense you are obliquely accusing the Doctors of perpetrating upon your delicate sensibilities.
In short, waaaaaaaah! Cry us all a river and float yourself away to the Orwellian Utopia of your dreams.
Report Post »Hank919
Posted on February 15, 2012 at 6:25amGo watch your msnbc idiot.
Report Post »EchoHawk
Posted on February 15, 2012 at 11:38amI had no expectation of those of your ilk understanding the point Wool-Free Vision.
Report Post »gpk
Posted on February 14, 2012 at 6:44pmWhen you contact Hillsdale get on their monthly mailing list and receive “Imprimis” their free monthly speech digest.
Report Post »TH30PH1LUS
Posted on February 14, 2012 at 6:20pmCan we pay for someone else to take the course…. (*cough* Obama *cough*)
Report Post »Stoic one
Posted on February 14, 2012 at 6:51pmIt is free. If you want email the link to the potus.
Report Post »I signed up and I cannot afford it.
Here is the link with a donate section, if you like: https://www.hillsdaleoffer.com/hillsdaleconstitution101
copatriots
Posted on February 14, 2012 at 7:05pmLOL Th30!
Although Obama’s handlers are an expert in the Constitution they are trying to shred.
Report Post »TRILO
Posted on February 14, 2012 at 6:12pmSigned up and made a donation. I always take opportunities to learn.
Report Post »mikem1969
Posted on February 14, 2012 at 6:22pmWish a local college in SC would do that so I could sign up my whole family. Its time to bring teaching the constitution, citizenship, economics, REAL US HISTORY, and civics back into the public schools.
Report Post »copatriots
Posted on February 14, 2012 at 7:08pmI signed up too, TRILO.
Mike, it’s a free online course. Why not have pizza night and watch the online lectures together as a family?
Report Post »EchoHawk
Posted on February 14, 2012 at 8:08pmBring plenty of sun screen for your derrie’re and prepare to have copious amounts of sunshine piped up your starfish.
Report Post »IMCHRISTIAN
Posted on February 14, 2012 at 5:57pmI am so proud of them. My thoughts and prayers are for their success in helping a lot of students.
Report Post »abbygirl1994
Posted on February 14, 2012 at 5:53pmNow to the rest of you colleges.. get on the ball and lets teach the truth.. Its time! God bless you Hillsdale!
Report Post »Robert-CA
Posted on February 14, 2012 at 5:40pmWait wait they’ll be soon hearing from the ACLU .
Report Post »copatriots
Posted on February 14, 2012 at 5:37pmWay to go, Hillsdale!!! Now if only we could get every politician, Democrat, the OWSers and the Blaze trolls to take the class………..
Report Post »mr molotov cocktail
Posted on February 14, 2012 at 5:36pmha ha they are going to do historical revisionism…
Report Post »the puritans pilgrims were socialists…..
i think its amusing how the right cloaks themselves in false patriotism and twist the founders words to suit their agenda…. if you actually read – something republicans dont do- for some reason
other then partisan books-
to validate their idiocy-
when you actually read the words of the people who built-this nation the true meaning of america
is against dominion theocrats conservative losers believe in~
real americans fled conservative europe the pilgrims and puritans were the cutting edge of their time…they were all liberals progressives
abbygirl1994
Posted on February 14, 2012 at 5:51pmWhy don’t you go to the Huffpo.. they would love you there.. And we won’t miss you at all! We know why your here.. its to just stir the pot! It’s always so nice to read the posts until we come to someone who obviously hates America and its freedoms. Truly I pity you.. and will pray for you!
Report Post »right-wing-waco
Posted on February 14, 2012 at 6:02pmIt is true that the early settlers tried a form of socialism. The land was owned by the colony and everyone was supposed to work hard and share in the food and all. It did not work as there were those that would not work hard but got their “share” just the same. Those that worked hard stopped working hard and the colonies nearly starved. Then the land was given to the people and they worked hard and then traded between each other. There was a great bounty and they prospered. Those that did not work had nothing to trade. This is the story of the 1st Thanksgiving.
Report Post »paleoman
Posted on February 14, 2012 at 6:32pmI signed up, just alittle more knowledge to throw on your fire. Punk
Report Post »mr molotov cocktail
Posted on February 14, 2012 at 6:51pmabbygirl1994 why dont you dominion conservative theocrats -who the puritans were fleeing form in europe just secede- the red states are welfare states..us blue-staters liberal states pay for red-states
conservatism sure works— there is lots of wealthy conservative states~
thats right the founding fathers were fleeing old conservative europe
they were liberals progressives~
anyone who says otherwise is just a ding-bat who has not studied their own words~ ”
go read some gingrich-historical revisionist books~
proof is in the pudding- supplyside economics is the biggest failure in history= conservative
Report Post »proof is in the pudding red-states take the most welfare=conservative
proof is in pudding that red-staters are losers ignorant of the historical facts
proof is in the pudding to conserve is to die- when anything quits changing=death
proof is in the pudding to be liberal is to change= live
republicans are a death cult
Stoic one
Posted on February 14, 2012 at 7:00pm**** TAIL
Report Post »Since you have all these claims, care to back them up with some links to the websites?
They seem to be cut and paste( perhaps the message is simple), I almost have your mantra memorized; but I would like to have your sources so the I may read them myself.
mr molotov cocktail
Posted on February 14, 2012 at 7:02pmand abby girl my family goes all the way back my family tar-and feathered conservatives and ran them out of the country….. yep even in washingtons time the revolutionary war the orginal conservative party was kicked out of the country~
ha ha republicans have always been on the wrong side of history-
Report Post »Turin
Posted on February 14, 2012 at 7:53pmMr. Molotov Cocktail,
Report Post »You do realize that classically speaking, the term “liberal” referred to small government, libertarian types, while “conservative” referred to people ideologically similar to today’s liberals? Yeah, I didn’t think so; otherwise, you wouldn’t have posted something that so revealed your complete ignorance of history.
colt1860
Posted on February 15, 2012 at 12:43amAh, yes, those darn liberal progressive Pilgrims:
“In the name of God, Amen. We, whose names are underwritten, the Loyal Subjects of our dread Sovereign Lord, King James, by the Grace of God, of England, France and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, e&. Having undertaken for the Glory of God, and Advancement of the Christian Faith, and the Honour of our King and Country, a voyage to plant the first colony in the northern parts of Virginia; do by these presents, solemnly and mutually in the Presence of God and one of another, covenant and combine ourselves together into a civil Body Politick, for our better Ordering and Preservation, and Furtherance of the Ends aforesaid; And by Virtue hereof to enact, constitute, and frame, such just and equal Laws, Ordinances, Acts, Constitutions and Offices, from time to time, as shall be thought most meet and convenient for the General good of the Colony; unto which we promise all due submission and obedience. In Witness whereof we have hereunto subscribed our names at Cape Cod the eleventh of November, in the Reign of our Sovereign Lord, King James of England, France and Ireland, the eighteenth, and of Scotland the fifty-fourth. Anno Domini, 1620.” – Mayflower Compact
“I shall need, too, the favor of that Being in whose hands we are, who led our forefathers, as Israel of old, from their native land and planted them in this country.” Thomas Jefferson, Presidential Inaugural Address (1801)
Report Post »right-wing-waco
Posted on February 15, 2012 at 10:27amHey Colt….
Nice post!
Report Post »PoohbearA2
Posted on February 14, 2012 at 5:28pmWent and interviewed the K-12 school that is run by Hillsdale. Wish that is hadn’t been so far to drive. Very nice to have this opportunity for my high school students.
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