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The Center for America's Founding Principles
Lead Faculty
Dr. Will Jordan
College of Liberal Arts, Political Science
478-301-2445
Dr. Susan Malone
Tift College of Education, Dean's Office
478-301-5399
Dr. Matthew Oberrieder
College of Liberal Arts, Philosophy
478-301-2169
Mercer Participation
Dr. Angela Dills, Economics, Stetson School of Business and Economics
Dr. Greg Domin, Political Science, College of Liberal Arts
Dr. John Hintermaier, History, College of Liberal Arts
Dr. Tom Huber, Biology, Director of Great Books, College of Liberal Arts
Dr. Charlotte Thomas, Philosophy, College of Liberal Arts
Description
Recent studies of curricula and learning outcomes at both the secondary-education and the collegiate level show an already-alarming, increasing trend of neglect of the teaching of, and student illiteracy in, American-civic and Western-cultural foundations. Contemporary America is a pluralistic society; yet, for such a society and its citizens to flourish as respectful, responsible, and free requires the understanding of both the founding principles and values of the American regime and the Western cultural tradition that is both its ground and the source of the conditions necessary for its very possibility and continuation. Given the current academic trends, then, the proposed initiative will address this urgent need of teaching and learning. Moreover, the proposed initiative will address the pivotal opportunity for a committed institution of higher education to lead a counter-trend, by presenting its own promoting the teaching and the study of both the founding principles and values of the American regime and the fundamental works of Western Civilization as a nationwide model for recognizing and addressing the above need.