Liberty, Literature, and Civil Discourse in the Classroom

<p>As we approach the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, we recall the key principles that form America’s foundation. Of these, the “certain unalienable rights” the Founders declared are “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” Yet, the Founders saw “liberty” not as the freedom to do whatever one wants—but rather the freedom to act and live in ways that promote virtue.&nbsp;</p><br><p>How does this understanding of liberty apply to our classrooms? How does civil discourse and viewpoint diversity create …