We Live In A Political World: #48 / It's Time To Revive The Teach-In Movement

Hans Morgenthau leads a debate on Vietnam that was broadcast

to teach-ins across the nation on May 15, 1965

Click Here For The Blog In The Original

Dear Friends,

I think it is time to revive the "Teach-In" movement.

An article from The Nation magazine, published during our current president's first term in office, suggested a need to regalvanize the "Teach-In" movement that had such a powerful impact on this nation during the 1960's. If that "Teach-In" movement was appropriate way back then, it is perhaps even more appropriate and necessary today, don't you think?

Let's start educating and reminding ourselves about what "democracy" and "self-government" actually demand. Let's stimulate and provide some powerful "refresher courses" on what our Constitution contemplates and requires of us, as citizens.

Does this sound like a good idea to you?

If it does, why not communicate with the college or university which you atttended, or from which you graduated? Submit a letter to the student newspaper, for instance! Tell your children, or grandchildren, or anyone else you know who has any current affiliation with an institution of higher learning that this "Teach-In" idea is worth reviving - that this is an idea whose time has come (again).

Here's my letter to the Dean of the Stanford Law School:

Dear Dean Triantis:

I graduated from Stanford Law School in 1969, and I have benefitted greatly from the education I received there - way back when the Law School was still located on the original Stanford Quad.

This letter is to suggest - to "urge," in fact - that you, and faculty members, and interested students, make arrangements to hold a "Teach-In" - or many "Teach-Ins" - at the Law School, or more generally on the Stanford campus, to start helping current students confront the distressing failures of the Congress, and many of our elected officials, to protect and defend what most call "democracy," and what I usually call "self-government."

As I hope you agree (though it is, in fact, distressing to admit it), our Constitutional Republic is under attack - an attack coming from within - and many people are confused about what's happening, and what we can, and should, be doing in response. The faculty and students at Stanford Law School should be speaking out, and providing good advice and counsel!