The Joe Foss Institute was created to work with youth in schools and youth groups across America—with those who will defend our freedoms in the future—encouraging & teaching democracy, patriotism, integrity, and public service. We help our audiences understand—and stand up for—the ideals upon which this country was founded, as reflected in our Founding Documents: the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and the Declaration of Independence.
We do this because somehow we—as a nation—have devalued the teaching of history, and have, according to our own Department of Education, done an alarmingly poor job of helping students gain a solid understanding of the historical and philosophical foundation upon which our nation was built.
Here is a brief introduction to our work, hosted by John Elway. To view a slightly longer version that includes background on the Institute, a brief biography of Joe Foss, and perspectives from teachers, please click here):
Adobe Flash Player not installed or older than 9.0.115!
Note: if you are viewing this site on an iPhone or iPad, you can watch the video here.
The Institute (recognized by the IRS as a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization) was founded in 2001 by Medal of Honor Recipient, General Joe Foss, together with his wife, Didi. Though Joe passed away in 2003, the Institute—under the guidance of Didi and its Distinguished Board—is working hard to teach patriotism, democracy, public service, integrity, and an appreciation for America’s freedoms to children in schools & classrooms throughout the country.
