Introduction to Constitution High School

This blog will focus on the unique government that is emerging at Constitution High School. CHS is a small school dedicated to the study of history, government, and civics. We are in our second year of operation with a freshman and sophomore class totaling about 200 students as of now and will grow to about 400. Located in the center of historic Philadelphia, one of my main goals as a social studies instructor is to access the historic and civic resources in the area to create an attitude that the city is our campus as well as set up a system of government within the school that truly empowers students to utilize civic knowledge, democratic deliberation models, and historical examples to create government leaders. Using the resources of our partners such as the National Constitution Center, Gilder-Lehrman Institue of American Studies, and the law firm of Ballard, Spahr, Andrews, & Ingersoll LLP, we will create a model for student government and course studies that could be replicated around the country.

This ambitious goal of education praxis will combine the theories of experiential and authentic learning with practical experience from teachers, administrators, and students. This blog will be used to further this cause by recording important events and reflections that have occured and the status of current and future programs and plans by those involved.

Participants and readers are encouraged to take an active part in any aspect of this blog.