Fill the Stage

Daniel Dignan

Fill The Stage

Helping students live well

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The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance

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A classic Western that entertains and alludes to timeless ideas that have deeply influenced Western civilization. The movie is about the accomplishment of ordered liberty and the humanities over anarchy and chaos. It captures education’s role in America’s experiment in self-government.

Ransom “Ranse” Stoddard (Jimmy Stewart), a lawyer, symbolizes civilization and full humanity. He is confronted by Liberty Valance (Lee Marvin), the brutish agent of chaos, who endeavors to kill him. Force is needed for civilization to rise; Tom Doniphon (John Wayne) is that force and plays a critical role, but eventually takes a back seat to civilization’s higher good.

Lastly, the cardinal virtues of prudence, temperance, courage, and justice are on display in beautiful ways.

Highly recommend for middle and high school students.

Declaration of Independence

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In “A Revolution for All Mankind”, Princeton historian Allen Guelzo reveals the global impact of the U.S. Declaration of Independence and the social and political paradigm shift behind its most famous line:

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

Guelzo’s article is a fascinating read and recommended for middle and high school students.

Clarence Thomas And The Lost Constitution

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Award-winning historian Myron Magnet tells the story of Justice Clarence Thomas’ upbringing, intellectual journey, and judicial philosophy. Raised by his grandparents, Thomas rose from crushing poverty, segregation, oppression, and political radicalism to become one of America’s greatest and most consequential legal minds.

After reading this book, your student will have a better understanding of America’s founding ideals, the historical and judicial shifts that fundamentally changed America’s constitutional system, and Thomas’ efforts to restore America’s original constitutional worldview that protects God-given natural rights and promotes individual responsibility and prosperity.

This was truly a fascinating, moving, and enlightening read.

White House America 250

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In partnership with Hillsdale College and PragerU, the White House has been publishing videos that tell the story of America and videos of the signers of the Declaration of Independence.

Story of America playlist:

The Signers playlist:

I particularly enjoyed “The Shot Heard Round the World”: The Battles of Lexington and Concord.

I also enjoyed The Signer videos on John Witherspoon, Martha Washington, John Hancock, and Thomas Nelson, Jr.

Let me know what you think at info@fillthestage.com!

National Civics Bee

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If you have a son or daughter who is particularly interested in American civics, government, and history, consider this National Civics Bee competition. Sixth, seventh, and eighth-grade students have until February 3rd to submit an essay on a local opportunity or problem and how to address it. Winners are selected for regional, state, and national competitions, as well as cash prizes.

This guide explains the essay requirements and judging criteria. The essay is short, but it does require some thought because the judges are looking for real opportunities and solutions. Here is the application portal for submitting essays.

Students selected for higher competition undergo a civics test and further questioning about their essays.

Lastly, you can find more information and important dates for the competition in the Educator’s Guide.

Confronting the Presidents

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Looking for highlights of each U.S. president’s time in office? This is the book for you. O’Reilly and Dugard excel at providing important information about each president in an upbeat, succinct style. Starting with Washington and ending with Biden, who was president when this book was published, the authors provide pros, cons, and historical context for each commander-in-chief. You may be surprised at the various and unsuspecting issues as well as victories these men experienced as they held the nation’s highest office.

On the other hand, if you want an in-depth analysis and biographical sketch for each president, I encourage you to look elsewhere. But it is reasonable that they don’t provide an exhaustive survey, since they have to discuss all the presidents; giving a lot of information on each would turn into a marathon reading project. Also, O’Reilly and Dugard do not rank all the presidents from worst to best based on their views, though they do provide some of their favorite and least favorite presidents throughout the book.

Consequently, this is a great book that offers a “30,000-foot” view of each president’s time in office without boring you with too many trivial details. Indeed, a good read for those wanting a helpful introduction to those who have held the most powerful office in the world.

Veterans Day

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Originally, Armistice Day, commemorating the end of World War I, Veterans Day honors all American military veterans. The holiday is an opportunity for young people to deepen their knowledge of and appreciation for our veterans.

My pastor shared Frank DeVita’s story at church. A World War II veteran, his D-Day story is astonishing. Here’s a two-minute introduction. More is available on YouTube.

If you are a veteran of the United States Armed Forces, thank you for your service!

America Fest 2025

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AmericaFest

America Fest is “The Biggest Conservative Movement in the Country” for students. An opportunity of a lifetime for young people to make new friends, develop leadership skills, and widen their awareness of conservative organizations and opportunities.

I will be there. Let me know if you are coming. It would be an honor to meet you!

For conference and registration details, please see Turning Point USA.