Blackstone Institute

BLACKSTONE'S TRUTH TRIATHLON TEAM

Blackstone Barristers are high-achieving members of the Truth Triathlon Team. More information is provided below on "Barristers."

Blackstone's Truth Triathlon Team is composed of high school students who have successfully completed requirements in the three event arenas on which the Team focuses:

Academics: Courses and shorter studies that relate to the Constitution and the Worldview/Culture war in which the Constitution is a central battleground;
Articulation: The presentations of persuasive speeches and moot court argumentation focusing on the hot Constitution/Culture War issues, court decisions, etc.;
Activism: Projects in which students put into action in a live, "real-world" manner the knowledge and skills they have acquired. The goal is always to fight for the Judeo-Christian worldview of the Constitution. Project examples include presentation(s) to civic and/or church groups, exhibitions at bookfairs or similar events, etc.

The basic requirements for Truth Triathlon Team membership are the successful completion with certain minimum grades in Blackstone's "Reviving the Constitution" course, and of an activism project approved by the Institute before the student launches the project. Each Team member must be supervised by a parent or other adult who certifies the student's work to the Institute. Other educational organizations, schools, curricula, etc. are most welcome to participate in Blackstone's Truth Triathlon Team under conditions arranged with the Blackstone Institute.

BLACKSTONE BARRISTERS

"Barristers" are lawyers found in Great Britain and several other Common Law legal systems where the legal profession is a "split system" including "barristers" and "solicitors." (The American system is a "fused system" where no such distinction between lawyers exists.) Barristers represent clients in court. They are specialized in trial advocacy, and often have qualifications beyond those of solicitors. Barristers are, therefore, top-ranking lawyers.

The Blackstone Institute confers the honor of "Blackstone Barrister" on a top-ranking Truth Triathlon Team member--one who has met special qualifications in each of the three Truth Triathlon Team events. The Blackstone Institute is delighted to have named its first Blackstone Barristers in May of 2008. They are:

Haley Harris, the seventeen-year old daughter of Milo and Carolyn Harris of Merkel, Texas; and
Matt Montgomery, the seventeen-year old son of Jimmy and Kathy Montgomery of Abilene, Texas.

These students have attended the classes taught in person by Dr. Armstrong to the students of the Big Country Home Educators ("BCHE") organization. Haley and Matt have completed three classes with Dr. Armstrong, garnering grades of "95" or higher, have given over twenty oral presentations and argumentations, and have contributed to the planning and launching of Blackstone's first Truth Triathlon Team during 2007-2008.

They invite you to join them in this unique and exciting educational adventure!

Congratulations, Haley and Matt!