Montpelier Weekend Seminars

Will Harris, academic director at the Center for the Constitution, engages seminar participants in lively discussion.

The Montpelier Weekend Seminars provide educators with an intense and challenging learning experience that will enhance their understanding of our constitutional system. They also offer a rare opportunity to study the American Constitution at the place where it was conceived. These highly acclaimed programs are designed to do more than provide teachers with important background knowledge; they challenge participants to think, act, and teach constitutionally.

The seminars are designed for middle and high school teachers of Government, American History, Civics, and Citizenship, along with other school professionals with responsibility for civic education. Participants are provided with documentation to earn professional development credits, according to the policies of their school district. Scholarships are available to cover all expenses (except travel) for educators who work in Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina, and the District of Columbia. All program materials, meals, and accommodations are provided. Educators who work outside the region can also participate, but should contact the Center for tuition rates.

Each seminar includes a combination of lectures, discussion, and specialized tours. Most lectures and discussions are conducted by Professor Will Harris, political science professor at the University of Pennsylvania, and founding director of the Center for the Constitution. Professor Harris has devoted his career to studying the Constitution and its underlying principles. His work in education for democratic citizenship has extended to Eastern Europe and the Middle East. Under his guidance, participants explore the founding theories, conceptual innovations, and intellectual framework of the American Constitution. Montpelier's professional staff will lead tours and discussions on various topics, including archaeology, plantation life, horticulture, and restoration research.

The programs begin on Friday evening and conclude on Monday afternoon, minimizing time away from the classroom. Most program activities take place in the Constitutional Village — a growing campus of six restored buildings only a short walk from Madisons's home. The Village currently includes four homes that provide twenty bedrooms for program participants, and a former schoolhouse that now serves as a Constitutional Library. In September 2007, Montpelier opened a new academic building for the Center. The newly renovated brick stable includes a modern classroom, dining room, catering kitchen, and additional meeting and office space.