Staff Reports
The Federalist Society filmed short interview segments with three conservative members of the Supreme Court that Fox News recently obtained. In the clips, Associate Justice Neil Gorsuch, Associate Justice Brett Kavanaugh, and Associate Justice Amy Coney Barrett urge a simple but serious idea: teach kids what America is and how its government works. Their message landed at the group’s “America 250” programming tied to the National Lawyers Convention, and it deserves more attention than the usual cable noise.
Federalist Society videos: What the justices said
Associate Justice Neil Gorsuch said rights are not handed down by government but are “God‑given,” and warned Americans take those ideas for granted. Associate Justice Brett Kavanaugh said our schools must teach American history and civics — not just to children, but to adults too. Associate Justice Amy Coney Barrett urged people to read the last line of the Declaration of Independence and to act as participants, not spectators, in the American project. These comments came in short segments the Federalist Society produced for its 250‑year series and Fox News excerpted for the public.
Why this matters: the civic literacy gap
Those words matter because the facts back them up. National test scores show a worrying lack of civics and history knowledge among students. Few eighth graders reach “proficient” levels in civics or U.S. history on the Nation’s Report Card. That isn’t just a school problem — it’s a national security problem for our liberty. When citizens don’t know how government works or what our founding documents say, they are easy targets for bad ideas and loud influencers.
What should be done and who should act
The solution is straightforward and practical. States and school boards should restore strong civics courses, require meaningful civic projects, and make sure teachers get training and good materials. Parents and community leaders must demand local accountability — civics is not a partisan luxury, it is basic education. Conservative institutions like the Federalist Society have a role in urging reform, and the administration should back measurable steps: curriculum standards, teacher support, and civic‑education funding that produces results, not slogans.
Conclusion: Teach, test, and participate
The three Associate Justices offered a clear challenge: if Americans want our freedoms to survive the next 250 years, we must teach the next generation what those freedoms mean and how to protect them. That is a small, practical demand compared with the cost of losing our liberties. So let’s stop pretending civics is optional. Teach it, test it, and then act on it — or be surprised when the next generation treats the Constitution like a historical footnote. And if your teenager thinks Congress is a streaming channel, you’ve got work to do.
