Federalist, Anti-Federalist papers topic
of discussion for OLLI members
KENNESAW, Ga. (May 24, 2013) -- What do James Madison and the Constitution have to do with OLLI? According to a group of history enthusiasts, plenty!
A group of students in the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Kennesaw State University’s College of Continuing and Professional Education took a Great Decisions class which focused on foreign affairs. Their continued enthusiasm for history and learning drew them to create a discussion group for the Federalist and Anti-Federalist papers which document the debate surrounding the ratification of the U.S. Constitution.
The group first met March 29. OLLI member Jack Carew said, “We have common interests. We would like to share feelings and our knowledge with other people.”
Books such as “The Federalist” and “The Anti-Federalist Papers and the Constitution Convention Debates” and DVDs from The Great Courses® are part of the discussion group’s materials.
Fellow OLLI member Charles Maddrey said the issues outlined in Federalist and Anti-Federalist papers provide a natural debate among OLLI group members. He said, “Nothing is black and white. It’s a bit gray.”
“At the time, it was quite heated,” OLLI member Carol Busby said of the historical debates. “It’s hard for us to get into the feelings that were expressed at the time. It was a national debate because it got everyone involved.”
Carew’s vision for the current discussions is a transition to an OLLI class for spring 2014. With leadership from the current students, he said future class members will learn, enjoy and benefit more.
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