FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Annie Stone, 703-217-1169 [email protected]
Merissa Blum, 215-370-0387 [email protected]
KEN BURNS AND JEFFREY ROSEN TO TEACH ONLINE CLASS FOR HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE STUDENTS ON THE CONSTITUTION DURING AMERICAN CRISES
Philadelphia, PA (March 31, 2020) – As a part of its ongoing focus on online learning resources, on Friday, April 3, at 1 p.m. EDT, the National Constitution Center will host a free online interactive course featuring its President and CEO Jeffrey Rosen and documentary filmmaker Ken Burns discussing The Constitution in Times of Crisis, looking both at moments in our history during which constitutional battles emerged amidst moments of crisis, including the American Revolution, Civil War, World War II, and the Great Depression, as well as what constitutional issues may arise out of the COVID-19 pandemic. Parents, teachers, and students can register for the class HERE.
This is the latest installment of the National Constitution Center’s series of free daily online courses for middle school, high school, and college students, engaging them in lively conversations about the basic principles of the U.S. Constitution while they are home as a result of the COVID-19 crisis. The courses are offered via Zoom, with over 4,000 students across the country participating in only five sessions so far in the last few weeks. Full details of the program, including weekly schedules and topics, registration details, and information on the program structure, can be found HERE.
“As part of our expanded opportunities for remote learning, I’m thrilled to have Ken Burns join us for a conversation about constitutional battles in moments of crisis,” said National Constitution Center President and CEO Jeffrey Rosen. “For over 40 years, Ken has served as America’s preeminent historical storyteller, exploring the essential questions of the American experience. This is an exciting chance for students to learn from one of our most inspiring historical thinkers.”
“This is a troubling, tumultuous time for our country—and for young people, in particular. It’s more important now than ever that students have meaningful opportunities to grapple with America’s complicated history,” said Ken Burns. “I’m excited to partner with Jeff and the NCC for this discussion about our country’s founding documents. I firmly believe that we cannot fully understand our present moment without engaging with the past. I hope this conversation helps students and teachers explore how we got here and how history itself is contested.”
To inform the discussion, clips from Burns’s films related to the discussion subject will be made available to students in advance on Burns’s digital platform UNUM. An UNUM Playlist called “The Constitution in Times of Crisis” was created for this webinar, which contains the following clips:
- Ken Burns on a Divided Nation
- Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness from Thomas Jefferson (1997)
- The Declaration of Independence from Thomas Jefferson (1997)
- A House Divided from The Civil War (1990)
- The Reconstruction Amendments from The Civil War (1990)
- The New Deal from The Roosevelts (2014)
- Packing the Court from The Roosevelts (2014)
In addition, PBS Learning Media has launched a new platform called “Ken Burns in the Classroom” aggregating all of its teacher resources for Burns’s films into one destination.
The National Constitution Center plans to engage other guest historians, scholars, and experts as a part of its weekly “Friday Fun Day” exchanges for high school and college students. Future guests to be named at a later date.
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About the National Constitution Center
The National Constitution Center in Philadelphia brings together people of all ages and perspectives, across America and around the world, to learn about, debate, and celebrate the greatest vision of human freedom in history, the U.S. Constitution. A private, nonprofit organization, the Center serves as America’s leading platform for constitutional education and debate, fulfilling its congressional charter “to disseminate information about the U.S. Constitution on a nonpartisan basis.” As the Museum of We the People, the Center brings the Constitution to life for visitors of all ages through interactive programs and exhibits. As America’s Town Hall, the Center brings the leading conservative and liberal thought leaders together to debate the Constitution on all media platforms. As a Headquarters for Civic Education, the Center delivers the best educational programs and online resources that inspire citizens and engage all Americans in learning about the U.S. Constitution. For more information, call 215-409-6700 or visit constitutioncenter.org.
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About the National Constitution Center
The National Constitution Center in Philadelphia brings together people of all ages and perspectives, across America and around the world, to learn about, debate, and celebrate the greatest vision of human freedom in history, the U.S. Constitution. A private, nonprofit organization, the Center serves as America’s leading platform for constitutional education and debate, fulfilling its congressional charter “to disseminate information about the U.S. Constitution on a nonpartisan basis.” As the Museum of We the People, the Center brings the Constitution to life for visitors of all ages through interactive programs and exhibits. As America’s Town Hall, the Center brings the leading conservative and liberal thought leaders together to debate the Constitution on all media platforms. As a Headquarters for Civic Education, the Center delivers the best educational programs and online resources that inspire citizens and engage all Americans in learning about the U.S. Constitution. For more information, call 215-409-6700 or visit constitutioncenter.org.
