This column series offers replies to what is published in the current “text books,” which are adopted by the State and school districts.
BY HAMILTON HANSON
I will now review the construction of Topic 2 – ”The Beginnings of American Government” in the textbook “American Government” published by Savvas Learning Company – in order to outline the current method of learning.
Every “Topic” begins with an Essential Question. Topic 2’s question is: How much power should a government have? That is a full page over a picture of George Washington. The next full page is labeled: Connections to Today, a brief description of money within the purview of the federal government.
The next page is a timeline of America labeled Road to Independence from 1607 to 1781. Also included are the following instructions: “In this Topic, you will learn about the American Revolution, the early years of the American Government, and the drafting and ratification of the Constitution of the United States. Look at the lesson outline and explore the timeline. As you study the Topic, you’ll complete the Quest Inquiry.”
The next page is the Quest Inquiry: “Document-Based Question: Should the Constitution be ratified?” Also on this page are four directives: Step 1, List your questions and answers; Step 2, Examine the documents; Step 3, Write a coherent essay regarding ratification; Step 4, Revise your writing.
The next page begins Topic 2.1: “Origins of American Political Ideals” with the explanation: The American system of government did not just spring up in 1776, ideas had been festering since the mid-1600s.
Also on that page is sub-heading “Origins of American Constitutional Government” with the explanation that English common law, English constitutionalism, and many other major intellectual, philosophical, political and religious traditions would all play parts in the development of American culture and governance.
The following two pages contain the discussion headings – Ordered government (sheriff, justice of the peace, grand jury, counties, etc.), Limited government (restrictions on government and unalienable individual rights) and Representative government (no description given).
The next sub-heading “Influential Documents” includes discussions of The Magna Carta (a 1215 document establishing the limitations of the King’s right to govern), The Petition of Right (a 1628 English bill of rights including no imprisonment without the lawful judgment of one’s peers, no martial law or military rule in peace, and challenged the Divine Right of Kings) and The English Bill of Rights (a 1689 document prohibiting the King from having a standing army in peacetime, suspension of laws and levying of money without consent of Parliament are illegal, but the right to petition the king, to a fair trial, freedom from excessive bail and from cruel and unusual punishment ARE legal).
All explanations are brief, concise and well written. Only Representative government – our Republican form of governance – is short on any pertinent explanation and details.
