MSU Civics Education Academy invites students to question the nation's founding ideas

July 24, 2026 - 02:09

Twenty four Michigan high school students spent two weeks at Michigan State University's James Madison College, digging into the ideas that built the United States. The Civics Education Academy took them from the Declaration of Independence to capitalism, pushing them to ask hard questions about the nation's founding beliefs.

The program did not just teach dates and documents. It invited students to examine why the founders wrote what they did, who was left out, and how those old ideas still shape life today. One day might focus on natural rights and equality, the next on economic systems and their impact on different communities.

Students debated, wrote, and listened to guest speakers. They looked at primary sources and compared historical arguments with modern problems. The goal was not to tell them what to think, but to give them tools to think more clearly about citizenship and democracy.

For many, the highlight was the chance to talk openly about tough topics. One participant said the academy made her realize that questioning the country's foundations is part of being a good citizen, not a sign of disrespect. Another said he came in thinking the Constitution was settled history and left seeing it as a living document still being tested.

The academy wrapped up with student presentations on issues they cared about, from voting rights to economic inequality. Organizers hope the experience sticks with them as they head back to their schools and communities, ready to engage more deeply with the ideas that continue to define the nation.