| Leading off this week’s curation at RealClear’s American Civics portal is an open letter written by Bob Woodson and our friends at 1776 Unites that is addressed to the National School Boards Association and local school boards. They urge that in light of poor student performance on the 2018 NAEP civics and history assessments, schools should adopt the 1776 Unites curriculum. As the letter explains, this curriculum “offers authentic, motivating stories from American history that show what is best in our national character and what our freedom makes possible even in the most difficult circumstances.” Overall, it maintains a “special focus on stories that celebrate black excellence, reject victimhood culture, and showcase the millions of African Americans who have prospered by embracing their country’s founding ideals.” Ashbrook’s David Tucker explores the historic roots of the Taliban in the wake of that group’s return to power in Afghanistan. Tucker explains that recognizing “the effect of the modern or western revolution on the world, and on Islam” offers us “a way of understanding why the Taliban” has retained influence “and why they may continue to return in various forms for years to come.” With the 20th anniversary of the Sept. 11th terrorist attacks approaching, a number of articles address how Americans – and students especially – should think about that fateful day in American history. William Anthony Hay argues that Sept. 11th should be remembered as a “turning point” that “shattered the optimism of a post-Cold War era” and inaugurated a “new protracted conflict with radical Islamic extremism.” Professor Amy Zegart writes that in her classes at Stanford University, she is trying to inject emotion into her lessons on Sept. 11th. She begins by showing students footage of the terrorist attacks and then tells them to act as if they were staffers on the National Security Council and figure out the country’s response in light of that day’s events. Original Posts Adam Carrington, RealClearPublicAffairs Essential Reading 1776 Unites Thank you for the vital leadership role you play in ensuring schools empower all of our students to acquire the core American virtues... Wilfred Reilly, National Association of Scholars Against the claim of decreased American racism over the past twenty years have come the audit studies. Throughout much of... In the News Sarah Pruitt, History.com Cathy Young, Substack Kevin Wagner, Palm Beach Post Nikki West, RealClearPolicy Carlos Lozada, Washington Post Michael Torres, City Journal Brie Stimson, Fox News Francis P. Sempa, RealClearHistory Jarrett Stepman, Daily Signal Evan Kinross, Blue Mountain Eagle Adam J. White, Constitutionalist Samuel J. Abrams, AEI William Anthony Hay, Law & Liberty Steven Zhou, Heterodox Academy Samuel Fleischman, The Nation Allen Guelzo, Heritage Foundation Hear Heritage Visiting Scholar Dr. Allen Guelzo, along with an expert panel, tackle questions about the Founders’ healthy debate... Chris Flannery, American Story “Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses . . .” These are among the most world-famous lines of any work of American... Michael Warren, Patriot Lessons 56 brave men signed the Declaration of Independence. Not all voted for it, and not all who voted for it signed it. Each of the signers... Kirk Higgins, BRI Primary Source Close Read How does the structure of our federal government promote the common good? Kirk Higgins in Part 2 of analyzing James Madison's... Daniel Feller, Jason Opal, Harry L. Watson, & Brad Birzer, National Association of Scholars President Andrew Jackson's political ideology forms the underpinnings of what is now the modern Democratic Party. He was... Rosemarie Zagarri, Nancy Rubin Stuart, & Jeffrey Rosen, We the People This week’s episode profiles Mercy Otis Warren—a trailblazing woman who was one of the leading thinkers of America’s Revolutionary... Wilfred McClay, Hillsdale College By the late 1970s Ronald Reagan emerged as a viable alternative to decades of Democratic orthodoxy. In this highlight of Hillsdale’s... Carl Cannon's Great American Stories Today is the recognized birthday of Uncle Sam. Although the iconic bearded visage, usually pictured in a top hat, gained ... Twenty-six years ago today, Baltimore Orioles star Cal Ripken played in his 2,131st consecutive major league game, surpassing a record set ... Good morning, it’s Friday, Sept. 3, 2021, the day of the week when I reprise quotations intended to be uplifting ... | 