Bluegrass Times

It has been said that the Declaration of Independence is the foundation of our country and that The Constitution is the blueprint or building plan for it. It recalls a popular game where focus, intentionality, and precision are key to ensuring the “structure” does not collapse. In this game, as each block is pulled out and rearranged, the strength of the structure is weakened. Inevitably, the whole thing comes crashing down because even the foundation is altered.

The stability of our country requires focus, intentionality, and precision as well. Each time the governed consent to the rule of an authoritarian leader the structure is weakened. Each time citizens give up their rights or censor themselves from speaking truth, the structure is weakened. And every generation that comes out of our public school system in America without a solid understanding and appreciation of our founding, weakens the structure.

There are those who believe that our country needs to be gutted and remodeled. Others believe that the original “building plans” just need to be revisited, reread, and studied so the structure can be restored to its original design and beauty. There are organizations actively working to ensure that students today are taught a complete history of our country so they can develop a full appreciation of its exceptional creation and progress. 1776 Unites is one such organization and is worthy of praise for their curriculum and advocacy.

Restoration is possible. Our very wise founding fathers ensured that when they drafted those beautiful documents. We can begin by strengthening the building blocks in our own homes with our children and grandchildren. Books created by the Tuttle Twins, Heroes of Liberty, and BraveBooks can help cultivate an understanding and love of the principles our country was founded on. We can continue by getting engaged in our community and government, living out those principles to continue the effort of creating a more perfect union. We can succeed by ensuring the next generation receives quality education, not indoctrination, in our public schools that are funded by American tax dollars.

Our country has a solid foundation, and the blueprint is one of brilliantly crafted documents in history. We have what we need, we just need to make sure they are studied, strengthened, and revered.

Beanie Geoghegan is the Chapter Lead for No Left Turn in Education KY. She is a former teacher and reading interventionist and is the mother of four grown readers, writers and independent thinkers.