By Elena Chin
Hillsdale College’s Classical K-12 Education
The Hillsdale 1776 Curriculum
“An enlightened citizenry is indispensable for the proper functioning of a republic. Self- government is not possible unless the citizens are educated sufficiently to enable them to exercise oversight. It is therefore imperative that the nation see to it that a suitable education be provided for all its citizens.” – Thomas Jefferson
“No country can really develop unless its citizens are educated.” — Nelson Mandela
An educated citizenry is a requisite for the survival of our country. The goal of public education should be to impart the knowledge necessary for students to become enlightened and independent citizens capable of protecting and defending liberty. Informed citizens demonstrate full understanding of the constitution, their rights, and the duties of government.
Parents all over the country are concerned with their children’s education and have good reason to be. During the pandemic parents got a first-hand look at what their children were being taught. With left-wing Progressives in charge of our school system for the past 100 years, the goals of public education have changed drastically. Most students have little or no knowledge of America’s history or civic traditions. Public education is failing to prepare most students for future self-governance.
Elementary school children are now being exposed to the same left-wing ideology college students have been exposed to for decades. Leftist school boards are pushing Critical Race Theory, anti-American ideology, political correctness, sex education, and transgenderism on children as young as preschoolers. Our education system is sowing seeds of division. Patriotism has been replaced by divisive identity politics. Children are being taught that our country is inherently racist and that they are either victims or oppressors.
The public education system is failing our students. Teachers, parents, and students are all victims of a system taken over by left-wing politicians and activists. Children are being robbed of their innocence, confused about their sexuality, and denied a quality education. Teachers’ creativity and ability to customize student learning is hampered by top-down policies and procedure. Frustration levels are high and job satisfaction is poor. Parents who oppose the indoctrination and sexualization of their children are being labeled domestic terrorists. The number of suicides and school shootings are on the rise while attendance rates, test scores, and graduation rates are declining.
Students are leaving the public school system in record numbers. Enrollment is down by 1.3 million nationwide and by 9% in New York City since the beginning of the pandemic. The home-schooling trend is growing rapidly. Remaining true to its mission, Hillsdale College is offering concerned parents of K-12 students who want to actively participate in their children’s education by providing a wealth of free resources developed by their finest professors and some of the very best K-12 teachers (rather than left wing bureaucrats). The Hillsdale 1776 Curriculum and the K-12 Classical Education Curriculum provide a complete collection of lesson plans, resources, and assessments for teaching core subjects, American history, civics, and government The Hillsdale curriculum is a valuable asset to parents who are home schooling as well as parents who wish to to supplement or counter what their children are learning in public school. Join Hillsdale College in the work upon which the future of our nation depends. Take an active role in teaching your children what informed citizens must know in order to defend our great American heritage and liberty. An educated populace cannot be manipulated: it is the best defense against tyranny. In the words of Ronald Reagan:
“Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn’t pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children’s children what it was once like in the United States where men were free.”
Tips, resources, and curriculum for home schooling: https://k12athome.hillsdale.edu/
K-12 Classical Education Curriculum: https://k12.hillsdale.edu/Curriculum/Classical-Education/
The 1776 Curriculum for K-12 Students: https://k12.hillsdale.edu/k12/media/Documents/The-Hillsdale-1776-Curriculum.pdf?ext=.pdf
