Teaching the Federalist Papers

[HiredHand]

Why Colleges Don't Teach the Federalist Papers

By PETER BERKOWITZ

It would be difficult to overstate the significance of The Federalist for understanding the principles of American government and the challenges that liberal democracies confront early in the second decade of the 21st century. Yet despite the lip service they pay to liberal education, our leading universities can't be bothered to require students to study The Federalist-or, worse, they oppose such requirements on moral, political or pedagogical grounds. Small wonder it took so long for progressives to realize that arguments about the constitutionality of ObamaCare are indeed serious.

Read the rest of the article here: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304743704577380383026226256.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

 

[MLR]

You aren't afraid that teaching the Federalist Papers might violate some portion of the Patriot act? Just sayin.

Michael

 

[mugsy]

You aren't afraid that teaching the Federalist Papers might violate some portion of the Patriot act? Just sayin.

Michael

No, I'm not - but I assume you are being sarcastic, ironic, or just tweakin' him

 

[Dale00]

Imagine teaching people that government can be a danger! Do a poll and most citizens would say that is crazy.

 

[Dr. HK]

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304743704577380383026226256.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

other link you needed a login/password.

 

[Dale00]

I understand there is a modern language version. Has anyone read it?

Part of the problem is that the original is tough to read.

http://www.amazon.com/The-Federalist-Papers-Modern-Language/dp/0936783214/ref=sr_1_4?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1336518890&sr=1-4

http://www.amazon.com/The-Federalist-Papers-English-Edition/dp/1434842193/ref=sr_1_9?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1336518890&sr=1-9

 

[Dave70968]

Part of the problem is that the original is tough to read.

How so?

 

[Dale00]

How so?

The writing style is hard to follow, so students may not want to read it.

An example:

There is something so far-fetched and so extravagant in the idea of danger to liberty from the militia, that one is at a loss whether to treat it with gravity or with raillery; whether to consider it as a mere trial of skill, like the paradoxes of rhetoricians; as a disingenuous artifice to instil prejudices at any price; or as the serious offspring of political fanaticism.

Madison, Hamilton and Jay were highly educated and their language reflects it. The typical college student will find it a tough slog. I know I did.