Rick Green: 0:12

This is the intersection of faith and the culture. Thanks for joining us here on WallBuilders. I'm Rick Green, America's constitution coach. Here we take the Barton, America's premier historian and our founder at WallBuilders. And Tim Barton, national speaker and pastor, and President of WallBuilders. You can find out more about all three of us and the organization at WallBuilders.com . Check that out today WallBuilders.com , get some of those great materials, and make your one time or monthly contribution right there on the website. It's a great way to amplify the voice of truth. Every time you make that donation, we're able to train more pastors and teachers and students and legislators and all the different things we're doing to restore America's constitutional republic so we appreciate you coming alongside us financially, but also taking action in your community becoming one of our Constitution coaches, hosting classes, there's so many different things that you can do to be a part of the solution. And we're glad that so many of you are doing that. Alright David and Tim, we got our friend Ken Blackwell back with us today on the program, going to be talking about this Covenant Journey and a great opportunity for parents all over the country and private schools to tap into some really good educational tools and maybe even the entire curriculum, if you're homeschooling. You know, David, you were homeschooling before I was homeschooling. I was homeschooling before, a lot of these people now that it's kind of faddish, but I think a lot of people think if I homeschool, I have to write curriculum from scratch. If I homeschool, I got to be a math expert. I got to be English expert. Not so at all. Here's a great resource we're going to be talking to folks about today. And it really makes it possible for anybody to do this.

David Barton: 1:41

Yeah, it's really important too, because I think a lot of parents have a certain insecurity about teaching their own kids academics, did you not see my math grades? When I was in high school, I was terrible in algebra. And you want me to teach algebra to my kids, what do you... And so there's all this insecurity about stuff that maybe we weren't as good at in school, or whatever it was. And I remember this even back, it's got to be 15 years ago or something when the California Supreme Court initially ruled against homeschooling and said, you can't have homeschooling, you have to be a certified teacher in the state of California to teach your kids and only about 6% of homeschool parents were certified teachers. But then it came out that you know, there's this 94% of the parents teaching their kids that aren't certified teachers, those kids are coming out two to four grade levels higher than everybody in the public schools is doing. And so non certified teachers actually getting better results than a certified teacher. And the Supreme Court went back and modified its decision and said no, no, it's okay for parents to be able to teach their kids. But there's just an insecurity that often goes with that. And then when COVID hit and three years ago, parents start seeing what was in the schools and said, This is not right. But I'm not sure I can homeschool my kids, I'm not sure I can do this, I'm not sure... I can't afford to send them to a Christian school. So I'm just kind of stuck with it. Well, there is a way now that from home, you can have your kids homeschooled in a Christian school with really good teachers and the insecurity, there's no longer reason for this, the cost prohibitions that used to be there with getting into private school, this has changed the whole landscape, this Covenant Journey Experience

Tim Barton: 3:13

Well Dad, as you mentioned, obviously, there's a lot of options out there. And we're about to hear about some, which is really encouraging for a lot of people. You mentioned that one of the barriers for a lot of parents has been a level of insecurity, right? And not to be critical of people, but there's often a fear of the unknown. And because parents want their kids to succeed, they want their kids to do so well, they do not... parents don't want to be the reason that their kids might not succeed. And so if there's a, right, some kind of perspective that I you know, because I'm not qualified, I could keep my kid from succeeding. Well, for people that are paying attention, if you look at the teachers that are, quote, unquote, qualified, some of those teachers that are qualified, what they are qualified in teaching is nothing you want your kids to know. And one of the things that is true as we look at education in early America, what was often a central theme in early America was much more of an essay, whether it be an oral essay or written essay, it was much more of an essay conversation about the topic. And that's something that parents could actually have a level of competence saying, hey, let's read this together. Let's talk about it. What stood out to you? What's the story? What can you repeat to me? And it was... a lot of it's centered around a level of comprehension of what was there. And comprehension wasn't just assessed by answering a multiple choice or true false question. It was how much have you mastered this content? And a lot of it again, happened through a conversation, through an oratorical exercise through essays etc. And it's something that parents can absolutely a part of, and I'm saying this, because I don't want parents listening to think that we would even be supporting or buying into the notion that you have to have outside help to be able to educate your children. You don't have to have outside help, but also there are some parents who maybe you would like a break in the day. I've got a two and a four year old and there are times that I'm at home with them, and I'm like, man, it would be so great right now, if you know, somebody could watch him for just a few minutes, so I can do something else. And there are such good groups out there right now who want to come along and partner with parents to teach the things that kids need to know, with the same values that parents would want their kids to have. And so this is a really good option for parents who might be looking for someone to help assist them in the journey of educating their kids helping their kids grow and what they need to know. And especially from the right perspective, and fortunately, we get to talk to somebody about that very topic right now.

Rick Green: 5:35

Yeah, in fact, Ken Blackwell will be with us when we come back from the break to talk about it. It's not just Ken and his wife, it's it's Mat Staver, It's Dr. Akers, who was at Liberty forever. These are a lot of good folks, David, you in fact, you know, most of these people, you're talking to them throughout this process as well. This is a really good tool for people that we're going to be learning about.

David Barton: 5:54

Yeah this is really cool because it's not like a Christian school that belongs to one church or that belongs to one organization. This is... these are solid people, solid Christian leaders from across the nation, that have the common values and the expertise and they've joined together to create an online Christian school that's available to every parent and every state, every family, regardless of what religious background you are, you're going to find as a Christian, this is a solid Christian education. And so it's really a great innovative concept. And it's really the excellence that people would want in their education along with the right values. And Ken Blackwell, who has been pushing for these kinds of values throughout his whole life, it's no surprise that he's on the board helping guide this endeavor, helping guide covenant journey, helping formulate this and bring it to being because he's been at the highest level of national politics as well as state politics. Really, really good guy, Ken, but that's the same way that the rest of the people who are doing this project.

Rick Green: 6:52

Ken Blackwell, our special guests stay with us you're listening to WallBuilders.

Tim Barton: 7:07

This is Tim Barton from WallBuilders with another moment from American history. Founding Fathers, John Adams and Thomas Jefferson originally worked closely together, but later became ardent opponents. This troubled Dr. Benjamin Rush, a signer of the Declaration who knew both of them very well. In

the Bible, 2 Corinthians 5: 7:21

18 tells us that God has given each of us the ministry of reconciliation. Dr. Rush believed this and set out to bring the two back together. It took a while, but Adams and Jefferson once again became close friends. And looking back on his role and helping bring about this reconciliation Dr. Rush stated, “It will give me pleasure as long as I live to reflect that I have been in any degree instrumental and affecting this reunion of two souls destined to be dear to each other and motivated with the same dispositions to serve their country though in different ways.” For more information about Dr. Benjamin Rush and his other remarkable achievements, go to WallBuilders.com .

Rick Green: 8:02

Have you noticed the vacuum of leadership in America? We’re looking around for leaders of principle to step up and too often, no one is there. God is raising up a generation of young leaders with a passion for impacting the world around them. They’re crying out for the mentorship and leadership training they need. Patriot Academy was created to meet that need. Patriot Academy graduates now serve in state capitals around America in the halls of Congress, in business, in the film industry, in the pulpit and every area of the culture. They’re leading effectively and impacting the world around them. Patriot Academy is now expanding across the nation and now’s your chance to experience this life changing week that trains champions to change the world. Visit patriotacademy.com for dates and locations. Our core program is still for young leaders 16 to 25 years old, but we also now have a citizen track for adults, so visit the website today to learn more. Help us fill the void of leadership in America. Join us in training champions to change the world at PatriotAcademy.com . We're back here on WallBuilders, thanks for staying with us. Always good to have our friend Ken Blackwell back with us, Ken appreciate you brother. Appreciate all that you're doing and so excited about what's going on with Covenant Journey Academy, but appreciate your time today.

Ken Blackwell: 9:14

Hey Rick, always good to be with you sir.

Rick Green: 9:17

Well, I you know, I had talked to Staver, Mat Staver about this a couple of months ago, and just excited about the opportunity this gives. Everything, you know, the most people are waking up and realizing the education system is broke, we got to have other alternatives but most people don't know where to turn or they feel like there's not a good alternative in their community. And Covenant solves a lot of those challenges.

Ken Blackwell: 9:39

It is a full service K through 12 online Christian Academy that is available around the world 24/7 365 days a year, you know, so with more than 150 courses all taught by certified teachers, and with more than 30 college courses taught by qualified university faculty, we have a strong dual enrollment option for folks who don't want to have their kids locked into a plantation of failure, which is what too many of our public schools have become. And so the mission of Covenant Journey Academy is to provide a superior learning experience built upon the foundation of a Christian worldview. And I tell you, we're just so proud of our faculty and our administrators. And I've been associated with Mat and Anita and the whole team over at CGA for over two decades. And so we're excited. We are rooted and the truth of eternity, but we in fact, have a true alternative to too many of the failed public school systems that have been cleansed of the biblical worldview.

Rick Green: 11:03

Yeah, well you know firsthand, you know, having served in, you know, not only local office, but statewide office as an ambassador for our country, I mean, all these different areas you've been, you know culturally, the trouble that we're in and see the culture crumbling and how much the education system is at the heart of that. So I imagine this was really good news to you, as well, and to be a part of this project. And in helping to rebuild that education system. You know, we have WallBuilders, of course, always talking about Nehemiah and rebuilding the walls, well, that really requires rebuilding the foundational things that we're teaching to our kids.

Ken Blackwell: 11:42

You're absolutely right. And, you know, our vision is to empower courageous generations of highly skilled people, thoroughly grounded in a Christian worldview, to transform the culture. And so we understand the gift of human agency that God has invested in each one of us. And we are determined to put it to good use all around the world. We believe in the primacy of the individual. But most importantly, we believe in the centrality of God in the life of our communities and our nations and nations across the globe.

Rick Green: 12:27

You know, I was thinking about the, you know, the difference here and your wife, I mean, she's been a school district superintendent, I mean, she knows the need as well, I would think for both of you what this does to give people an alternative that felt like there was nowhere to turn. I imagine y'all are very excited about it. But I'm excited that your input into this is so critical.

Ken Blackwell: 12:52

I've been a cheerleader for school choice for well over 50 years. But Rosa has been in the middle of the whole education scene for just as many years and, you know, I... her courage, she first went in and she created along with a couple of colleagues, the alternative school system to start it, to make sure that kids weren't locked into neighborhoods where schools were dysfunctional. And she gave parents a little bit more wider choice among schools that were working and that were a good fits for their children's educational needs. And so she's never been one afraid to attack a stale status quo. And she's never been afraid to engage with teachers unions, who, all too often are more concerned about preserving a stale status quo than they are in fact freeing and broadening the horizons for the students that they had been charged with.

Rick Green: 14:06

Well I don't know if I said it in a nice enough way. I was trying to say, you know, it's really great having you on the advisory board but frankly it's even better having your wife...

Ken Blackwell: 14:18

Hey! Look, I resemble that remark. I agree with you. I agree with you

Rick Green: 14:26

Well, the team is stellar, it honestly is, I mean, I'm just, I'm just looking at the page right now and just all the different people and it's just one of those things it gives me hope and I know parents are feeling the same way and so to parents out there that are, you know, you've been trying to figure out where to turn, what to do, CJ.Academy , man it's got so many good things for you and anybody can do it. That's the thing, I think parents sometimes feel like, well I don't know if I can pull this off. And, you know, it's so different and all that. That's what covenant does is come alongside you and provide the expertise.

Ken Blackwell: 14:58

That's right and so we can work with institutions, or we can work with parents who are homeschooling their children, we engage and partner up with established faculty members, with our faculty members. And so it's an exciting time. It's an exciting engagement that we are involved in. But you know, history is not a snapshot, it is a process. And so we understand that we have to get more people involved in the process. You know, because there is a statist worldview, that's not just creeping into our space, I mean, it's coming ahead first, and it has a built up... pushes of energy, so we have to push back. And we have to understand that this is a wide ranging battle in Ohio. Rick, we are right now, next month, August 8, we are in a battle with the pro abortionists, who in fact, want to next November, invest in our state with the most liberal abortion, this provision of our state constitution. And it's just a door opener for other states. And so what we're doing on August 8, is that we have an amendment that says that it shouldn't be that easy to change the state constitution with 50% plus one, we're saying that threshold should be 60%. We believe that, you know, the US Constitution was carefully crafted for durability, and has allowed our nation to flourish for the past 245 years in large measure, due to the fact that it is not easy to amend, you can amend it, but it is not easy to amend. And one of the weaknesses of Ohio's constitution on the other hand, is that it currently is far too easy to amend. And it has been amended a whopping 172 times since 1851. So we're going to take that battle. And to the people on August 8, say lets raise that threshold, whether we win or lose there, we're ready for a battle for the precious lives of innocent babies in Ohio, and across this nation in November, in a big November battle that we're ready to engage in. But so from the womb, to preschool, through higher education, we understand that our future rests on the ability of our kids to engage as, not subjects, but free citizens, who in fact, are thinkers that have their values rooted in biblical values that have endured the test of time.

Rick Green: 17:56

You know, Ken, you're always saying things that I am moved by and encouraged by, but now, I'm just convinced that you're just in tune with the Holy Spirit or something, because I am so glad you brought this up, because just a couple of days ago, somebody called in and stumped me on this Ohio, you know, Constitution language and said, you know, which way should we be going on this thing? And should it be a higher majority? And I was like, Oh, my goodness, I don't know, I haven't researched this thing. And I need to go find it. And actually off the cuff, I said, you know, I love the fact that it's hard to amend the United States Constitution. Even though there's several amendments, I actually want to see happen that Mark Levin's pushing for, but the high bar has been a good thing. And here in Texas, same as you guys in Ohio, I didn't realize y'all had the same problem, we amend our constitution every year with all these changes. And so my gut was it should be a higher threshold. But I couldn't, I didn't know enough about the details of the pro life fight and who was pushing what. And so you just cleared all that up, without even know what I needed to ask that question. How did you do that?

Ken Blackwell: 19:01

Rick, you and I are on the same wavelength.

Rick Green: 19:03

I'm telling you! It was like, I didn't even... I mean, the audience has no clue. I didn't email you. I didn't text you. You had no idea that I got this call a couple of days ago, and that I needed to know what you just shared.

Ken Blackwell: 19:15

And I've been criss crossing the state. And even at the Cincinnati Reds baseball game, against the Milwaukee Brewers, I was there just explaining to people even in raising the percentage of votes required to pass amendments from 50% to 60%, Ohio's Constitution would remain far easier to amend than the US Constitution, which requires a two thirds majority vote in the House of Representatives and Senate plus 75% of the state legislature for ratification. You know, so this isn't unfair. It really does protect us against the whimsy. And I think what the radical left understands is that they are out looking for opportunities to put destructive death oriented amendments into our state constitutions, that makes it much easier for them to erase, cancel out, innocent life.

Rick Green: 20:27

Yeah, yeah. Amen. Amen. Well, for our listeners in Ohio, there you have it. And so I guess when it's on the ballot next month, the question on the ballot next month is, should we raise it to 60%? And so it's for... You want to be for the amendment?

Ken Blackwell: 20:42

For it. That's right. Absolutely. And the left, they're going to spend $25 million, they have these deep pockets, billionaires who are pro abortion, they are going to try to just flood us with head fakes and misinformation, but it's because of our word... mouth to hear conversations between engaged citizens that we in fact, can make this work and raise the threshold in Ohio. And again, I want to win on the 8th. But if we don't win on the 8th, it is imperative. It is life saving that we win in November.

Rick Green: 21:25

So good man, so good. I really appreciate you bringing that up. And of course back to the covenant deal, we just want to lead people the website today, CJ.Academy . I know that sounds weird folks, You're used to .com, .org or whatever. It's just CJ.Academy . It's even easier than going to a regular website. Ken Blackwell. Always a pleasure, sir. Thanks so much for your time today.

Ken Blackwell: 21:45

Love you brother. Take it easy, Rick.

Rick Green: 21:46

You as well. Stay with us, folks. We'll be right back with David and Tim Barton.

Tim Barton: 21:49

Hey, guys, we want to let you know about a new resource we have at WallBuilders called The American Story. For so many years, people have asked us to do a history book to help tell more of the story that’s just not known or not told today. And we would say very providentially in the midst of all of the new attacks coming out against America, whether it be from things like the 1619 project that say America is evil, and everything in America was built off slavery, which is certainly not true or things, like even the Black Lives Matter movement, the organization itself, not out the statement Black Lives Matter, but the organization that says we’re against everything that America was built on, and this is part of the Marxist ideology. There’s so many things attacking America. Well, is America worth defending? What is the true story of America? We actually have written and told that story starting with Christopher Columbus, going roughly through Abraham Lincoln, we tell the story of America not as the story of a perfect nation of a perfect people. But the story of how God used these imperfect people and did great things through this nation. It’s a story you want to check out, WallBuilders.com , The American Story.

Rick Green: 22:59

We're back here on WallBuilders. Thanks for staying with us. Thanks to Ken Blackwell, for joining us as well. excited about this new curriculum. And we'll have links today for you at WallBuilders. So David, Tim, so you know, I do want to ask you about that last topic that Ken was talking about this constitutional amendment election in Ohio, because we have stressed a lot hear that, you know, listen, we don't like the filibuster in the Senate, we think it ought to be majority rules, all that good stuff, but when it comes to a constitutional amendment, we definitely support the higher bar if you're going to change the document for a constitutional republic, whether at the federal level or at the state level, I think we should have a higher bar. What do you guys think?

David Barton: 23:36

Absolutely. When you start changing a constitution, the founding fathers who absolutely believed that the majority was the voice believed also that when you change the fundamental document itself, you have to have a higher threshold or level. This is not like a statutory change. This is not like we're passing a law on should a speeding ticket be set at $55 to $75. This is a fundamental change and it deals with inalienable rights. In this particular case, it deals with the issue of abortion, taking an innocent unborn life, and to merely put it at the majority level we have seen, as a matter of fact, Rick, how long ago, was it? A year ago? When we were talking about the election system in Alaska, where that they went to the multi tier system, and the Liberals poured in from the outside all this money, and they miss educated people, and they got the majority. And so they changed the whole system, because instead of having a higher threshold to change the constitution, it was just a simple majority vote. And if you can pour a few billion dollars into ads, and the other side can't match that then you can get everybody to believe your viewpoint. And so going to a higher level when you change the constitution, the founding fathers set that precedent for us. That's a really good precedent. As Ken mentioned, his state, you know, Rick, we see here in Texas, in Texas, our Constitution, we change it like it's just a statutory bill. Every two years, it seems like we got three or four or five constitutional amendments on there. And they're on procedural things, they're not on bigger things like rights, so the Texas Constitution is one that's susceptible to that majority kind of stuff. And so I think what they're doing in Ohio is really, really important particularly for the issue of unborn life. The left wants to take it and say, hey, with a pure majority, we can overturn protection for unborn life in Ohio, just the people well, this, it's like what they did with the proposition in Michigan, where that they got a pro... And by the way in Kansas too, they got a pro abortion proposition through and never even mentioned abortion as part of the proposition. They just said, it gives you more freedom, it gives you more rights, it gives you more whatever. Who doesn't want more freedom, more rights? Except that wasn't an accurate portrayal. So when you get to that higher level, that higher supermajority level, that's like genuinely having a debate on the legislative floor where you're more likely to have both sides be heard. So just having the pure low level of a simple, simple majority is not good, especially on inalienable rights. And so we applaud Ken what he's doing. We hope you guys in Ohio jump on board to get that changed. You need a higher threshold when you're changing your constitution, especially when you're dealing with inalienable rights, especially when the pro abortion side has as much money at their disposal as they have. We need all protection for life we can get and bless Ken for what he's

Rick Green: 26:21

Well, it's great to have him on the program. Great doing. to offer this to folks out there and give them the chance to learn more about it. Again, we'll have links today at WallBuilders.com but thank you so much for listening, folks. You've been listening to WallBuilders.