Check back in October for updated information about our Summer Institute 2009.
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A group photograph of some of our 2007 participants. |
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Shaping the Constitution: A View From Mount Vernon 1783-1789
Landmarks of American History and Culture: Workshops for School Teachers
Dear Colleague:
What do an English historian, an Italian wine merchant, an anti-slavery advocate, and the Father of the Constitution have in common? Each of these individuals – Catherine Sawbridge Macaulay Graham, Philip Mazzei, Francis Asbury, and James Madison – paid one or more visits during the years 1783-1789 to the retired leader of the American Revolutionary forces, George Washington, at his Virginia waterfront plantation, Mount Vernon. Perhaps these guests marveled at the brilliant colors of the mansion’s main dining room. They might have strolled around the grounds and seen the slaves performing the multitude of tasks necessary to make the plantation flourish. It’s likely that the visitors sat on the east-facing piazza and watched the ships sail up and down the Potomac River. Finally, and most significantly, these visitors – and others like them – participated in dialogues and discussions at Mount Vernon which resulted in the creation of the American constitutional system. Funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities We the People initiative, our Landmarks of American History and Culture Workshop, Shaping the Constitution: A View from Mount Vernon 1783-89, is an opportunity for you (and ultimately your students) to gain a better understanding of Mount Vernon as a crossroads for the discussion of ideas that led to the Constitution.
This Workshop will be offered to 50 teachers at two different times during the summer of 2008: June 16-20 and July 28-August 1. The program each week will begin at 8:30 a.m. on Monday morning and will conclude at 5:00 p.m. on Friday. In brief, the Workshop offers:
- Academic content about Mount Vernon, George Washington, and the Constitution
- The opportunity to engage in scholarly discourse with leading academics
- A stipend to help cover housing and meal costs
- A transportation allowance
- Networking with other social studies teachers from around the nation
- On-going professional development opportunities and the opportunity to earn graduate credit
During the past four summers, nearly 500 teachers from all 50 states have participated in our Landmarks Workshop at Mount Vernon. Throughout this letter, I’d like to share with you some of their comments (in italics) as well as some images from previous program.
This was an intellectually challenging workshop in which I had the opportunity to learn so much
about the period of history between the end of the American Revolution and the ratification
of the Constitution. I appreciate much more the challenges our Founders faced and the amazing
accomplishment of the founding of our republic. I will be able to share this information with
my students in September.-2006 Participant
WORKSHOP’S CONTENT, SCOPE, AND APPROACH
Few homes in America are so inextricably linked with their owner as Mount Vernon is linked with George Washington. Most Americans can identify Washington as our First President or as “The Father of Our Country”, and many think of his Potomac River plantation, Mount Vernon, as Washington’s retreat from his military and political responsibilities. However, the pivotal role that Mount Vernon played in the 1780’s as a meeting place in the dialogue that resulted in the Constitution is largely overlooked.
During a tour of the mansion, teachers take in the view from the veranda.
After leading American forces to victory in the War of Independence, George Washington returned home in 1783 to Mount Vernon and resumed the life of a farmer. But Mount Vernon would never again be the quiet sanctuary it had been prior to American Independence. Situated on the bank of the Potomac River, the plantation became an important way station on the road between North and South, as travelers of all ranks, ranging from celebrated statesmen to little-known anti-slavery crusaders, came to pay homage and to garner Washington’s support for the political position or cause they championed. Indeed, during the period 1783-1789, the plantation became nothing less than an intellectual crossroads for political ideas that helped to shape the Constitution.
Each day, a Powerpoint presentation will highlight selected individuals who visited Mount Vernon during the 1780s. Lectures and discussions will emphasize the central themes of the Founding Era that were discussed by these Mount Vernon visitors: republican government, equality, liberty, slavery, limited government, federalism, commerce, and freedom of religion. The lectures and your participation in the discussions will broaden not only your understanding of the Founding period but also of American political culture in general, since our ideas about these subjects have defined us as a people.
Teachers in an afternoon discussion group.
This Workshop is co-sponsored by the Bill of Rights Institute ( http://www.BillofRightsInstitute.org) and by George Washington’s Mount Vernon ( http://www.mountvernon.org/). Each organization is uniquely qualified to help you better understand the historic and constitutional significance of Mount Vernon. The Bill of Rights Institute’s mission is to educate students and teachers about our country’s Founding principles through programs that teach the words and ideas of the Founders; the liberties and freedoms guaranteed in our Founding documents; and how America’s Founding principles affect and shape a free society. Over 10,000 teachers from around the country have participated in our summer institutes, seminars, and presentations. Mount Vernon, the home of George Washington, is owned and maintained by the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association, the oldest historic preservation organization in the United States. Under the Association’s 140-year long trusteeship, Mount Vernon has been authentically restored to its original appearance. Today Mount Vernon is a national monument that is open to the public every day of the year and serves over one million visitors annually, including many school groups. The Education Department of Mount Vernon has extensive experience in offering residential programs for teachers. Your participation in this Landmarks of American History and Culture Workshop will provide a well-rounded experience of George Washington’s Mount Vernon.
As a result of this experience, I plan to go into further detail on the creation of the Constitution and Washington's role in the new United States, both as Founder and our first President. The new knowledge I have about Washington and the Founding period will help me relate this knowledge to my students' lives and will allow me to make the Founding period come alive for them.—2007 Participant
ACTIVITIES AND ASSIGNMENTS
Six weeks prior to the workshop, we will send approximately 250 pages of reading. Completion of these readings in advance is strongly recommended because the days at Mount Vernon will be full. The readings will introduce you to Washington as a thinker; to Mount Vernon as a historical landmark; and to the yeasty and tumultuous period of 1783-1789. Selections will be both primary and secondary sources such as excerpts from The Federalist Papers, Madison’s Notes at the Constitutional Convention, W. B. Allen’s George Washington, A Collection, and Stuart Leibiger’s Founding Friendship: George Washington, James Madison, and the Creation of the American Republic.
Mount Vernon staff leads participants on a tour through the Gristmill.
We will generally meet each day from 8:30-5:00 on the historic grounds of Washington’s Mount Vernon. Our first day will be an introduction to the man, the mansion, and the times. We will tour the grounds and the gardens, and learn about the history of Mount Vernon and the types of people who visited the mansion during the years of 1783-1789. Our first day will conclude with an after-hours tour of the Mansion.
Having grounded ourselves in the history of the site, we will spend the next several days examining the people and the ideas that were in ferment at Mount Vernon during these exciting years. Each day’s program will include three lectures, a discussion session, and a pedagogical session. The lectures will serve as a lead-in to the discussion sessions during which participants will divide into small groups and consider certain questions about the prevalent issues and themes of the day. Pedagogical sessions will give you time to develop ideas for conveying what you learn to your students. Participants will also have the opportunity to explore the newly-opened Ford Orientation Center and the Donald W. Reynolds Museum and Education Center, as well as the Gristmill and Distillery.
Participants enjoying a cruise on the Potomac River.
By the end of the week, you will be prepared to make an informal presentation to your colleagues about a teaching activity (not a full-fledged lesson) that will incorporate the historical and intellectual themes of the Workshop. Within a month of the completion of the Workshop, we will ask you to send us an electronic version of your classroom activity for dissemination and posting on the Bill of Rights Institute’s Web site. Sample lessons from previous participants can be found at http://www.BillofrightsInstitute.org/teach/programs/summerinstitute/lessons.
What an excellent content driven experience! There is nothing more exciting for a teacher than to be in an intellectual environment that gives them actual resources that they can use. This experience has had an immediate impact on my teaching. -2005 Participant
WORKSHOP FACULTY AND STAFF
We are bringing together a varied and talented staff to help you better understand the role of Mount Vernon as a nexus for the ideas which shaped the Constitution. I am the Project Director and will also serve as one of the master teachers, lead small-group discussion sessions, and oversee the teacher research/pedagogical sessions. As Vice President of Education Programs at the Bill of Rights Institute, I lead the Education Programs Team in the planning and development of the Institute's teacher seminars, and direct the development and production of instructional materials for the classroom, our student programs, and our Web site. During my 28-year teaching career, I participated in several NEH programs as a participant, and I am eagerly looking forward to again directing this Workshop at Mount Vernon. It is the highlight of my summer. I will be joined by two of my colleagues serving as Master Teachers: Brett Helm, Director of Professional Development for the Bill of Rights Institute, and Veronica Burchard, our Director of Curriculum Development.
Dr. Stuart Leibiger with two participants.
With us each week will be Resident Scholar Dr. Stuart Leibiger, the author of Founding Friendship: George Washington, James Madison and the Creation of the American Republic. Dr. Leibiger, an Associate Professor of History at LaSalle University, has also worked on two major editing projects, The Papers of George Washington and The Papers of Thomas Jefferson. His talks will examine the Mount Vernon Conference and the Annapolis Convention; the friendships between Washington and Madison; and the constitutional legacy of Mount Vernon.
We will also be joined by several Visiting Scholars. Dr. Adam Tate earned his Ph.D. in 2001 from the University of Alabama, where he studied southern intellectual history during the Early National and Antebellum periods. Currently Associate Professor of History at Clayton College and State University in Morrow, Georgia, Dr. Tate will be with us mid-week and help us to examine and understand 18th century Southern political thought; the role of slavery in Southern society and at Mount Vernon; and the criticisms of the Articles of Confederation during this period.
Our second Visiting Scholar will be Dr. Gordon Lloyd, the co-author of The Essential Bill of Rights and The Essential Antifederalist. Dr. Lloyd, Professor of Public Policy, School of Public Policy at Pepperdine University, has extensive experience working with high school teachers and in directing academic conferences and summer seminars. His talks on Thursday and Friday will share his areas of expertise--the Constitutional Convention, Anti-Federalism, and the Bill of Rights--and focus on the contributions made by Mount Vernon’s visitors to these documents and debates.
The Workshop Co-Director is Nancy Hayward, Assistant Director of Education, The Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association. Nancy oversees all on-site educational programs at Mount Vernon and coordinates outreach education programs as well as professional development initiatives for educators.
Other members of the staff of Mount Vernon will join us to share their expertise about the buildings, the grounds, and the history of this significant landmark in American history. Dr. Dennis J. Pogue, Associate Director of Historic Mount Vernon, will be our guide to this historic landmark.
Shaping the Constitution: A View from Mount Vernon was an exciting, invigorating educational experience. Given numerous primary sources, resources, and stimulating lectures, the experience has given me new ideas to incorporate into the classroom, plus the materials and resources to do implement the ideas. I am excited to begin the new year with these new ideas!—2007 Participant
SPECIAL QUALIFICATIONS
The academic content of this workshop is likely to be of greatest interest to high school history and government teachers. However, we realize that many middle and elementary school teachers spend a fair amount of time in their classes studying Washington, Mount Vernon, and the Constitutional era, and we encourage you to apply. We welcome applications from other secondary education professionals and hope to receive applications from educators who are familiar with Washington and Mount Vernon, as well as from those for whom this is a new area of study and interest.
ACADEMIC RESOURCES
Veronica Burchard with a participant during a discussion group.
Participants will have an opportunity to visit the Mount Vernon Library and to work with copies of some of the documents in the collection. A computer is not needed for the Workshop since the teaching activity “assignment” will not be formally completed until after the week at Mount Vernon. Computers are not available for e-mail and Internet access at Mount Vernon, but the Residence Inn (the preferred hotel for participants) does offer free high-speed Internet connections and a business center. Participants will be able to spend some time in the Mount Vernon Teacher Resource Center.
This workshop has given me new ideas and resources to use – primary sources from this period (and web-available materials)-- in my classes next year. I’m determined to encourage my colleagues even more strongly to attend NEH events next summer! -2005 Participant
CREDIT
At the conclusion of the seminar, you will be provided with certificates verifying your attendance at all required sessions. There will be approximately 35 hours of actual instruction within the Workshop. You should determine in advance to what degree your state or local school districts will accept participation in the Workshop for continuing education units. However, the Bill of Rights Institute and Mount Vernon will work with you to provide sufficient documentation for your school district.
This year, we are able to provide an academic credit option for those interested. Ashland University in Ohio will grant 2 semester hours of Education graduate credit to participants who submit a teaching activity (as described above in “Activities and Assignments”) and pay a total tuition charge of $400. Registration will be handled on the first day of the program and participants must bring either a check or credit card information if they would like to earn these credits.
This experience at Mount Vernon is at the top of my list for professional development.
-2005 Participant
STIPEND
Teachers selected to participate will receive a stipend of $500 at the conclusion of the program. Stipends are intended to help cover living expenses and travel expenses to and from the Workshop location. Additional travel allowances will be allocated at the conclusion of the Workshop.
The housing at the Residence Inn was perfect. Not only was it convenient for the daily shuttle, the daily breakfast and supper snack was a time (and money) saver. The location was near the Metro – making it convenient to get into Washington DC on the evening we had off to see the monuments. The rooms were spacious and well-equipped. While I was exhausted each evening from the busy days, it was a treat to go back to such welcoming rooms. -2006 Participant
HOUSING AND MEALS
George Washington’s Mount Vernon is located along a verdant, scenic, easily-accessible stretch of the Potomac River. However, the 18th century bucolic environment precludes development, and there are no hotels located within walking distance of the grounds. We have reserved a block of rooms at the Residence Inn in Old Town Alexandria, and it is the recommended hotel for our participants (but participants are welcome to make other arrangements.) The hotel has offered rooms for $189 (plus tax) per night for a room with a bed and pull-out. This price includes daily breakfast and a light dinner (which you will be able to enjoy on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings.) To reduce expenses, participants will be given the opportunity to request a roommate for the 5-6 nights of the Workshop.
Old Town Alexandria is a safe area. Within easy walking distance of all the hotels are numerous options for dinner where you’ll find a range of prices and cuisines to tempt and entice you. You will also be only a few short steps from the Metrorail, the area’s public transit system. Washington, D.C. is just across the Potomac River, and within thirty minutes, you can be dining in Georgetown or snacking on Capitol Hill.
On Wednesday evening, we will organize an optional and informal “Staff Dinner.” This will be an opportunity for you to join members of the Workshop staff for a dinner at Gadsby’s Tavern, a colonial-era inn in Alexandria.
On Thursday evening, the Bill of Rights Institute will host a wine and cheese party on the veranda of the Mansion. As you enjoy your beverages and savor the view, you will be joined by members of the Mount Vernon staff.
Teachers relaxing at the Thursday evening reception on the Piazza.
A bus will pick up participants each morning at 8:00 a.m. at the Marriott Residence Inn in Alexandria and will return from Mount Vernon by 6:00 p.m. (The buses will leave at a later time on the evening of the Mansion Tour and night of the party on the Piazza.) Free parking will be available at Mount Vernon for those of you who would prefer to drive directly to the site. Lunch may be purchased each day for $10-15 at the Mount Vernon Inn or Cafeteria.
You allowed me to stand on the piazza of the Great Man and drink a beer! Does it get any better than that? No way! -2004 Participant
ABOUT ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA
When you arrive at your hotel in Old Town Alexandria, you will feel as if you’ve stepped back into the 18th century. Cobblestone streets, brick facades, and antique light fixtures will transport you back in time. Though Washington spent most of his adult life at his Mount Vernon plantation, the city of Alexandria is known as Washington’s hometown. Washington's involvement with Alexandria began before the town's founding in 1749 and continued throughout his life. Washington made early maps of Alexandria in 1748 and 1749, represented Alexandria in the House of Burgesses prior to the Revolution, and was a trustee of Alexandria and Justice of the Peace. Alexandria's homes and taverns were the site of many meetings and social gatherings attended by Washington. During the evenings, you might want to replicate Washington’s experiences by having dinner at Gadsby’s Tavern, visiting his home on Cameron Street, or stopping by Christ Church and seeing his personalized pew. The Alexandria City Web site ( http://alexandriava.gov/) will give you even more suggestions for continuing your study of Washington in the evenings.
The most important thing about this workshop was the way I felt walking to my car after it was all over. A sense of sadness came over me that somehow I was walking out of the 18th century and being unwillingly plunged into the 21st century. -2004 Participant
APPLICATION PROCEDURE
For detailed information regarding the application guidelines and procedure, please click here.
A completed application packet consists of three copies of a NEH cover sheet (which you must fill out on-line and then print for submission with your application), three copies of your resume, and three copies of the application essay. To access the NEH cover sheet, please visit http://www.neh.gov/online/education/participants/ and select the button for a ‘Landmarks of American History and Culture Workshop.’ Perhaps the most important part of the completed application is an essay of up to one double-spaced page. This essay should include information about your professional background and interest in the subject of the Workshop; the special perspectives, skills, or experiences that you would contribute to the Workshop; and how the experience would enhance your teaching or school service.
Our Landmarks Program also requires a letter of recommendation from the principal or department head of your teaching institution, or the head of a home schooling association in support of your application. This letter should address your ability to integrate the lessons and experiences of the Workshop into your current professional responsibilities. One copy of this letter of recommendation (in a sealed envelope) should be included in your application packet.
Because of the high volume of applications that we expect for this Workshop, we cannot accept any application material via fax, e-mail, or as an e-mail attachment. Please collate all elements of your application into three packets, each of which contains the cover sheet, resume, and application essay. Include the sealed letter of recommendation in your package. The completed package should be postmarked no later than March 17, 2008 and should be addressed as follows:
Claire M. Griffin
A View from Mount Vernon
The Bill of Rights Institute
200 N. Glebe Road
Arlington, VA 22203
I hope that this letter has given you a good sense of the Workshop and has answered many of your questions. If you need additional information, please e-mail me at Events@BillofRightsInstitute.org, or you may telephone our Education Programs Coordinator for the Bill of Rights Institute, Marianne Scott, at (703) 894-1776, Ext. 10. Thank you for your interest in our program and we look forward to receiving your application.
Sincerely,
Claire McCaffery Griffin
Vice President of Education Programs