| Last week’s curation at RealClear’s American Civics portal starts off with news from the Jack Miller Center: unveiling the winners of its 4th annual Teaching Excellence Award. Winners this year include senior scholars Susan McWilliams Barndt of Pomona College and Jonathan White of Christopher Newport University, along with junior scholar Rudy Hernandez. In the category of primary and secondary educators, Jane Highley of Devon Preparatory School won while Sergio de Alba of R. M. Miano Elementary received an honorable mention. In selecting their annual awardees, JMC says that they evaluate “student nominations, field evaluations, and in-depth reports from the nominees themselves.” Through a “rigorous process,” they work to “find the best and brightest civic educators in America.” Below are two pieces published at RealClear written by professors in JMC’s network. At RealClearHistory, historian Craig Bruce Smith focuses on the lasting legacy of the Battle of Yorktown. The famous battle, of course, secured the Americans’ win over the British – a victory that would not have happened without a crucial alliance with the French. Smith writes that although there are those in U.S. politics today who want to pull back from the world, alliances are still vital: “With war, conflicts, and hostilities gripping multiple continents, world events today have proven that alliances are more important than ever.” At the American Civics portal, Claremont McKenna College professor George Thomas argues that Justice Sandra Day O’Connor’s “practical” approach to interpreting the Constitution is superior to the one typically offered by originalist justices on the Court today. “O’Connor’s admirers saw an appreciation for precedent, an acknowledgment of changing circumstances, and a respect for legislative judgments – even if she did not always defer to them – that enabled an ongoing conversation regarding constitutional standards,” Thomas writes. In closing, he notes that whatever final conclusions one has on O’Connor’s jurisprudence, she clearly understood the importance of civic education in safeguarding our constitutional democracy for generations to come. Original Posts George Thomas, RealClearAmericanCivics Appointed to the bench by President Ronald Reagan over four decades ago last month, the late Justice... Essential Reading Craig Bruce Smith, RealClearHistory "The greatest harmony prevails between the two Armies. They seem actuated by one spirit," glowed General George... David DesRosiers, RealClearPolitics Dear RealClear Reader, This is RealClearPolitics' seventh presidential election. More than two decades ago, RCP set out... Jack Miller Center The Jack Miller Center has announced the winners of the 4th annual Teaching Excellence Award. Senior scholars... In the News Michael Lucchese, Kirk Center Jackie Valley, Christian Science Monitor Richard Gunderman, Ford Forum Jon Domen, WTOP Bradner, Krieg, John & Strauss, CNN Dave Roos, History.com John O. McGinnis, Law & Liberty C. Bradley Thompson, Substack Laura Kwerel, NPR J. Peder Zane, RealClearPolitics Jane E. Calvert, Time Robert G. Natelson, Law & Liberty Sean Murphy, AP Stephen Blackwood, James G. Martin Center Richard Reinsch, Law & Liberty Constitutionalist On the thirty-eighth episode of The Constitutionalist, Shane Leary and Dr. Benjamin Kleinerman are joined by Justin Dyer... National Constitution Center David Greenberg's new biography, "John Lewis: A Life," chronicles the remarkable story of the civil rights activist... Carl Cannon's Great American Stories It's Friday, Oct. 25, 2024, the day of the week when I reprise a quotation intended to be uplifting or ... It's Tuesday, October 22, 2024, two weeks from Election Day. Golfing legend Arnold Palmer is in the news this week, ... It's Friday, Oct. 18, 2024, the day of the week when I reprise a quotation intended to be uplifting or ... | 