Talk to anyone and eventually they’ll get around to talking about their kids, or nieces and nephews, or the neighborhood kids. And sooner or later the concept of public education will creep its way into the discussion. I know to some people out there I’ll sound like an old geezer when I say this, but I’m really not that old: “I remember when it was important to learn about your government and how it works.”

When I was in the 7th grade, I had to take a Mississippi Civics class where we were “forced” to learn the names of all 82 counties in Mississippi. We studied the Mississippi Constitution and the founding of this great State. Then in the 11th grade, I had a class in American History and we held bake sales and car washes to raise enough money to take a trip to Williamsburg, Gettysburg, and Washington D.C. It was important to learn how government works and how bills become law. It was so important that Saturday morning television even got into the act.

In between cartoons and commercials, the powers that be at the time (probably conservatives!) decided that they had some time to spare to take the opportunity to turn Saturday morning into a classroom of fun. Schoolhouse Rock made it’s debut in 1973 on ABC and kids all over the United States began to learn math, english, science and though it is unbelievable today, civics as well.

These cartoons/music videos have stood the test of time. In fact, you can purchase a copy of their 30th Anniversary DVD here or you can see the unofficial history of SchoolHouse Rock here. At any rate, this website is dedicated to the premise of offering educational opportunities to visitors and members. It would be a travesty if we ignored the children in this effort since they are our future.

To that end, I’ve located several Schoolhouse Rock Videos and I’m going to add them here. Gather your children around you and watch them together. And order the dvd to help make sure that your kids can get the benefit of this wonderful educational opportunity. MeridianTeaParty.com doesn’t make a dime from any purchase nor are we associated in anyway with the producers. However, I can still recite The Preamble to The Constitution because I learned this song on television when I was less than 10 years old.

Do not under estimate the long-term benefits to finding ways to make learning fun.

The Preamble

How A Bill Becomes A Law

Three-Ring Government

No More Kings

The Shot Heard Around The World

Elbow Room

The Great American Melting Pot

Where The Money Goes

Tyrannosaurus Debt