♪ [CLOSED CAPTIONING HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY CARDI'S FURNITURE AND MATTRESSES] >> I ALWAYS WANT TO WORK ON MY FARM AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.

>> THERE'S NO DENYING RACHYL TRAVIS'S MOST COMFORTABLE AROUND HER GOATS.

>> THEY LOVE YOU, THEY ARE FOLLOWING YOU.

>> AFTER MORE THAN THREE DECADES, THE BARN DANCE IS STILL GOING STRONG.

MUCH BECAUSE OF ITS HOST, DAN FERGUSON, WHO REMAINS ITS BIGGEST AND MOST PASSIONATE FAN.

>> IT IS A THRILL EVERY WEEK.

I LOVE COMING HOME AND SENDING OUT MY PLAYLIST TO EVERYBODY EVERY WEEK.

MICHELLE: GOOD EVENING, WELCOME TO THIS VIRTUAL EDITION OF RHODE ISLAND PBS WEEKLY.

TONIGHT WE NEED TWO PEOPLE WHO FOUND PASSION FOR WORK EARLY AND NEVER LOOK BACK.

FIRST UP, FOR A YOUNG WOMAN IN SCITUATE, FINDING WHAT SHE LOVE TO DO ALL BEGAN WITH A GOAT.

BACK IN AT THOUSAND NINE, RACHYL TRAVIS FOUND HERSELF IN A CURIOUS POSITION GROWING UP ON THE FAMILY FARM.

SHE HAD MORE GOATS MILK THAN SHE AND HER FAMILY COULD USE.

WITH SOME INSPIRATION AND SUPPORT FROM FAMILY, SHE CREATED HER OWN BUSINESS AND SOON FOUND HERSELF RUBBING ELBOWS WITH SOME OF RHODE ISLAND'S MOST POWERFUL POLITICIANS.

>> FARMING IS WHERE I FIND MY PEACE AND SERENITY.

I LOVE FARMING.

I DON'T WANTED TO FEEL LIKE A JOB.

MICHELLE: IT MAY NOT FEEL LIKE A JOB BUT AT 18 YEARS OLD, RACHYL TRAVIS HAS ALREADY SPENT HALF OF HER LIFE WORKING.

WHAT IS A TYPICAL DAY LIKE?

>> I'M A LATE FARMER AS I LIKE TO CALL IT.

I GET UP AT 7:00 IN THE MORNING.

MOST FARMERS WILL GET UP AT 4:00 IN THE MORNING.

I GET UP AT 7:00, TAKE CARE OF THE GOATS AND MILK THEM.

I TAKE CARE OF THE REST OF THE FARM.

MICHELLE: RACHEL HAD ABOUT EVERY ANIMAL IMAGINABLE ON HER FAMILY'S FARM IN NORTH SCITUATE.

IT IS HER LOVE OF GOATS THAT SET HER ON A PATH SHE NEVER ANTICIPATED.

ON HER SEVENTH BIRTHDAY SHE WAS GIVEN A GOAT NAMED BUTTERSCOTCH.

IT WASN'T LONG BEFORE RACHEL GOT MORE AND BUTTERSCOTCH HAD BABIES OF HER OWN.

BY THE TIME SHE WAS NINE, RACHEL WAS MILKING 15 GOATS EVERY DAY.

WERE YOU OVERWHELMED?

>> AT FIRST I WAS VERY OVERWHELMED.

I HAD NO IDEA I WOULD BE GETTING 15 GALLONS OF MILK EVERY DAY.

I BECAME VERY COMFORTABLE WITH THE FACT ONCE I STARTED MAKING SOAP AND DIFFERENT PRODUCTS.

MICHELLE: SHE BROUGHT HER EXPERIMENTS TO THE KITCHEN, WHERE SHE LEARNED TO MAKE SOAP FROM GOATS MILK.

>> I WILL PUT THE 30 OUNCES OF GOAT MILK, MIXED IT.

I WILL TAKE THE ESSENTIAL OIL AND MIX IT FOR ANOTHER 10 MINUTES.

I WILL LET IT DRY FOR 24 HOURS.

THIS IS THE FINISHED PRODUCT.

MICHELLE: RACHEL GAVE THE SOAP TO LOVED ONES AND THE IDEA FOR A BUSINESS WAS BORN.

>> THEY CAME BACK TO ME A COUPLE MONTHS LATER ASKING ME TO BUY IT BECAUSE IT WAS HELPING THE SKIN AS FAR AS DRY SKIN, ECZEMA, STUFF LIKE THAT.

I REALLY RESEARCHED THE OILS AND WHICH ONES WERE BEST TO PUT IN SOAP, AND YOUR SKIN.

I CREATED MY OWN RECIPE AND STARTED SELLING IT AT FARMERS MARKET.

IT KIND OF TOOK OFF FROM THERE.

MICHELLE: KEEPING UP AS A FULL-TIME JOB.

SHE SELLS 500 BARS OF SOAP A WEEK WITH OTHER PRODUCTS SHE MAKES FROM GOATS MILK.

INCLUDING BODY LOTION, LIP BALM, AND MAKEUP REMOVER.

HER SOAP IS HER BIGGEST SELLER.

>> I WILL MIX IT WITH THE OILS.

I WILL MIX THEM TOGETHER WITH THE HAND MIXER.

MICHELLE: THE WHOLE PROCESS HAS BECOME ROUTINE FOR RACHEL.

WHEN SHE WAS 11 SHE DECIDED SHE WANTED TO BE HOMESCHOOLED.

SHE BEGAN PUTTING MORE HOURS INTO OPERATING HER BUSINESS.

IN 2015, IT BECAME CLEAR THIS WAS MORE THAN A HOBBY.

RACHEL PARTNERED WITH HER MOM AND HER OLDER SISTER TO RUN THE COMPANY.

THEY DO EVER HAVE VISIONS THE BUSINESS WOULD BECOME WHAT IT IS TODAY?

>> NOT AT ALL.

IT WASN'T EVEN IN MY WILDEST DREAMS THAT WE WOULD COME AS FAR AS I HAD.

MICHELLE: RACHYL MADE A NAME FOR HERSELF AS A YOUNG GIRL SELLING PEOPLE ON THE BENEFITS OF GOATS MILK.

>> IT HAS HYDROXIDE ACID IN IT.

MICHELLE: SHE MOSTLY SELLS OR PRODUCT ONLINE AND IN FARMERS MARKETS.

>> IT WAS VERY HARD BECAUSE I WAS SO YOUNG.

I CALLED AROUND TWO TONS OF FARMERS MARKETS.

THE ONLY ONE I COULD GET INTO WAS THE NORTH SCITUATE FARMERS MARKET BY THE NEXT YEAR I HAD OTHERS CALLING ME ASKING TO BE IN THERE IS BECAUSE OF THE CROWD I DREW.

THAT WAS REALLY COOL.

IT WAS COOL THAT PEOPLE WERE CALLING ME ASKING ME TO BE A PART OF THAT.

MICHELLE: BEING A YOUNG ENTREPRENEUR HAS BROUGHT HER RECOGNITION ACROSS THE OCEAN STATE.

SHE HAS MET WITH GINA RAIMONDO AND APPEARED ON THE STEVE HARVEY SHOW.

RACHEL DOESN'T TAKE THE SPOTLIGHT LIGHTLY.

NEITHER DOES HER MOTHER LILY.

>> SHE IS INSPIRING YOUNG GIRLS WHO WANT TO BE ENTREPRENEURS.

THAT HAS TO FEEL REALLY GREAT TO SEE YOUR DAUGHTER SHINING.

>> I'M PROUD OF ALL MY CHILDREN.

RACHYL IS AN OLD SOUL.

SHE GOES A LOT BEYOND HER YEARS.

SHE HAS ALWAYS BEEN LIKE THAT.

SHE HAS ALWAYS BEEN FOCUSED.

SHE DID IT.

I'M VERY PROUD OF HER.

MICHELLE: RACHEL LEARNED THAT A YOUNG AGE THE IMPORTANCE OF RESILIENCE.

IN 2014, DOZENS OF THE FAMILIES ANIMALS DIED IN A BARN FIRE.

THE FAMILY BELIEVES A HEAT LAMP THEY USED LIKELY SPARKED THE FIRE.

THE OUTPOURING OF SUPPORT SHE RECEIVED CONTINUES TO DRIVE HER.

>> I HOPE TO MAKE MY BUSINESS BIG ENOUGH WHERE I COULD HIRE EMPLOYEES TO WORK.

I REALLY LIKE TO GIVE BACK TO COMMUNITY.

I THINK THAT WOULD BE REALLY COOL.

MICHELLE: RACHYL IS IN HER SECOND YEAR STUDYING BUSINESS MARKETING.

JUGGLING A BUSINESS AND SCHOOLWORK IS NOTHING NEW TO HER.

WHEN YOU'RE GROWING UP YOU HAD TO MAKE A LOT OF SACRIFICES.

>> I DIDN'T GO TO MIDDLE SCHOOL OR HIGH SCHOOL.

I DIDN'T HAVE THE SOCIAL LIFE THAT OTHER KIDS EXPECTED FROM THEIR TEENAGE YEARS.

I HAD MY CLOSE GIRLFRIENDS THAT NEW IF WE WERE HANGING OUT WE WOULD BE MAKING SOAP OR DOING SOMETHING.

THEY WERE RAISED THAT WAY.

THEY ALL HAD FARMS GROWING UP.

WE WERE ALWAYS REALLY CLOSE IN THAT ASPECT.

WE WERE ALWAYS WORKING AND THAT WAS NORMAL FOR US.

THAT WAS HOW MY SOCIAL LIFE WORKED OUT.

IT IS FUN TO PLAY OUT HERE WITH THEM.

WATCH HOW ANIMALS MOVE NATURALLY AND WHAT THEY DO WHEN THEY ARE NOT BEING WATCHED.

MICHELLE: THEY ARE FOLLOWING YOU.

THE GOAT MILKING BUSINESS IS NOT FOR EVERYONE.

RACHYL HOPES HER STORY ASPIRES OTHER BUDDING ENTREPRENEURS TO FOLLOW THEIR PASSION.

>> TEACHING GIRLS THEY COULD DO ANYTHING.

YOU DON'T NEED APPROVAL FROM ANYBODY.

IF YOU ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT IT, TRIED OUT.

IF YOU FAIL, IT IS NOT A BIG DEAL.

MICHELLE: THERE BEEN A SEISMIC SHIFT OVER THE PAST DECADE.

MANY TRDITIONAL PLATFORMS LIKE RADIO PROGRAMMING DECLINING.

STREAMING SERVICES AND OTHER ON-DEMAND FORMATS RAPIDLY EXPANDING.

DESPITE THE CHANGES, DAN FERGUSON HAS FOUND A WAY TO CONTINUE THE TRADITIONAL BROADCAST METHOD WITH HIS RADIO SHOW.

EVERY WEEK HE INTRODUCES RHODE ISLANDERS TO NEW AND OVERLOOKED ARTISTS IN THE ALTERNATIVE COUNTRY, COUNTRY AND WESTERN, AND FULL GENRES.

AN IMPORTANT START -- PART OF THE STATE'S MEDIA.

FOR ONE OF THE LEADING INDEPENDENT BROADCASTERS, THE REASON IS A MIXTURE OF A LIFELONG PASSION FOR MUSIC, STICKING TO OLD HABITS, AND A DESIRE TO BE AHEAD OF THE CURVE.

>> MY LIFE WITHOUT MUSIC?

I WOULD PROBABLY HAVE A NICE SALON.

I WOULD HAVE A HOUSE WITH NO TASTE.

ALL THAT KIND OF STUFF.

>> LIFE WITHOUT MUSIC WAS NOT TO BE.

LISTENERS OF DAN FERGUSON'S WEEKLY RADIO SHOW ARE GRATEFUL.

FOR THE PAST 33 YEARS THIS PROGRAM HAS BEEN BROADCAST FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF RHODE ISLAND.

ALTERNATIVE COUNTRY, COUNTRY-WESTERN, AND INDIE FOLK MUSIC.

>> YOU ARE TURNING IN -- TUNING IN.

MY NAME IS DAN FERGUSON.

>> HIS PASSION BEGAN WHEN HIS BROTHER WENT OFF TO COLLEGE.

>> I STARTED GETTING INTO IT AND BUYING STUFF PROBABLY IN THE LATE 1960'S, EARLY 1970'S.

>> HE BEGAN LISTENING TO COUNTRY ROCK AND ROCK 'N' ROLL.

HE BEGAN SHIFTING TOWARDS A WHOLE DIFFERENT DIRECTION.

COUNTRY, FOLK, AND PUNK.

INCLUDING DISCOVERING THE PROGRAMMING ON WRIU.

>> I JUST STARTED LISTENING, GOT A LITTLE FEVER THERE.

I LISTEN TO THE FULL SHOWS.

-- THE FOLK SHOWS.

THEY GOT ME INTO FULL MUSIC, BLUEGRASS MUSIC -- FOLK MUSIC, BLUEGRASS MUSIC.

THEY HAD A SHOW WHERE THEY PLAYED COUNTRY FOR SIX HOURS.

THIS WAS ALL TRADITIONAL STUFF.

THAT KIND OF BLEW MY MIND.

IT SENT ME ON THIS PATH OF GEORGE JONES, MERYL HAGGARD.

>> IT WASN'T LONG BEFORE HE LEARNED HE WANTED TO SHARE THE MUSIC HE WAS DISCOVERING.

WHAT BETTER WAY TO DO THAT THEN BECOMING A DISC JOCKEY?

>> MY NAME IS DAN FERGUSON.

WE ARE GOING TO KEEP IT IN THE BLUES MODE RIGHT NOW.

WE WILL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> WITH VERY LITTLE TRAINING, FERGUSON BEGAN TO FILL IN AS HOST OF THE THURSDAY NIGHT FULL SHOW -- FOLK SHOW.

HIS PREDECESSOR DECIDED HE WANTED TO STEP ASIDE AND HEADED OVER THE REINS TO HIM.

MUCH OF HIS IDENTITY HAS COME FROM TRIPS TO MUSIC MECCAS LIKE AUSTIN AND NEW ORLEANS.

THE NAME OF HIS RADIO SHOW WAS BORN WHEN SOMEONE COINED THE NICKNAME FOR HIM THAT BECAME THE PROGRAM'S IDENTITY.

>> SOMEONE SAID BOUDIN DAN.

>> WHAT KIND OF RESPONSE DID YOU GET WHEN YOU BROUGHT THE NEW SOUND TO A RURAL PLACE?

>> IT IS HARD TO SAY.

PEOPLE KNEW ABOUT THE SHOW.

I MEET PEOPLE AT THE CLUBS IN PROVIDENCE WHEN THESE BANDS CAME THROUGH.

THERE WASN'T A LOT OF PEOPLE GOING TO THOSE SHOWS.

>> HE WAS WRITING REVIEWS FOR LOCAL PAPERS.

DOING WHAT HE COULD FOR THE UNDERGROUND WORLD OF ALTERNATIVE COUNTRY.

A GENRE THAT REFERS TO THE INSPIRED MUSIC YOU WON'T.

POP COUNTRY RADIO.

>> SOMEBODY HAD TO WAVE THE FLAG AND GET THE WORD OUT.

I NEVER GAVE UP ON IT.

>> DESPITE BUILDING A COMMUNITY, FERGUSON FELT THERE WAS STILL A GAP IN RHODE ISLAND'S MUSIC SCENE.

HE WOULD ATTEND THE SHOWS OF MANY OF THE TOURING ARTISTS HE PLAYED ON HIS RADIO SHOW.

>> I WAS SO DISAPPOINTED IN THE TURNOUT.

>> IT WOULD BE THE FIRST STEP IN BRINGING THE BARN DANCE SHOW TO HIS HOME.

ONE NIGHT WHEN HIS FRIEND JEREMY , WHO TODAY IS ON SIRIUSXM SUGGESTED HE TAKE MATTERS INTO HIS OWN HANDS.

>> HE CAME HERE AND STAYED OVER ONE NIGHT.

HE SET OUT TALKING ABOUT HOW DISAPPOINTED I WAS.

HE SAID GET APA AND DO IT IN YOUR HOUS.

THAT GOT THE WHEELS TURNING.

>>'S HOME IS FILLED WITH AN INCREDIBLE COLLECTION OF OUTSIDER ART.

PHOTOS OF ROCK STARS AND OLD POSTERS.

HE LAUNCHED HIS HOUSE CONCERTS, WHICH TODAY HAS FEATURED OVER 250 SHOWS.

CONCERTS ATTRACT A LARGE AND DIVERSE AUDIENCE OF MUSIC LOVERS FROM THE COMMUNITY.

♪ >> AS RHODE ISLAND EMERGED AS A GLOBAL HOTSPOT, FERGUSON BELIEVES HE WAS A TASTE MAKER BEFORE SOME OF THE BIGGER CURATORS IN THE AREA.

>> WE'VE GOT THE NEWPORT FULL FESTIVAL.

IT HAS PUT THIS REGION ON THE GLOBAL MAP.

THEY ARE WAVING THAT FLAG 20 OR 30 YEARS.

>> EVEN WHEN NEWPORT FOLK WAS STARTING TO CHANGE THEIR THING, I DON'T FIGURE WAS ANY STATION OR SHOW THAT WAS PLANNED.

I WAS PLAYING THEM TWO YEARS BEFORE.

I LWAYS FELT A LITTLE AHEAD OF THE CURVE ON THAT.

>> STAYING AHEAD OF THE CURVE WITH THE MUSIC AND TECHNOLOGY HAS BEEN KEY TO THE BOUDIN BAR DANCE.

TODAY WE HAVE DIGITAL MEDIA BUT WHAT ROLE DOES A STATION LIKE WRIU STILL PLAYING COMMUNITY BUILDING AND GETTING A MESSAGE OUT?

>> IS THE LAST INDEPENDENT MUSIC CHANNEL DEFINITELY IN RHODE ISLAND.

>> WRI YOU CONTINUES TO BROADCAST A DIVERSE SELECTION OF MUSIC SHOW STANDING -- SPANNING GENRES.

WE HAVE THE CHILDREN SHOW, LOU GRASS BREAKDOWN, THEY ARE PAIRED WITH A HODGEPODGE OF OTHER SHOWS.

ALL HOSTED BY COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND UNIVERSITY STUDENTS.

THE BOUDIN BAR DANCE IS THE LONGEST CONTINUOUSLY RUNNING PROGRAM ON THE STATION.

IN ADDITION TO HOSTING HIS OWN WEEKLY SHOW, FERGUSON IS ALSO THE DIRECTOR OF FULL PROGRAMMING FOR THE STATION.

THE STATION STAYED ON AIR DURING THE HEIGHT OF THE PANDEMIC WITH HOSTS PRE-RECORDING SHOWS AND EMAILING THEM TO THE STATION.

>> I MISS THE SPONTANEITY OF BEING ON THE AIR.

I NEVER MISSED A SHOW.

WE DID A SHOW EVERY WEEK DURING THE WHOLE PANDEMIC.

I WAS MOBILE, I COULD DO IT ANYWHERE.

>> AFTER MORE THAN THREE DECADES THE BAR DANCE IS STILL GOING STRONG.

>> IT IS A THRILL EVERY WEEK.

I LOVE TYPING MY PLAYLIST IN AND SENDING IT TO EVERYBODY.

THESE ARTISTS NEED ALL THE HELP THEY COULD GET.

♪ >> WHAT IS YOUR MESSAGE TO MUSICIANS, CURATORS, BROADCASTERS, ANYONE OUT THERE?

WHAT SHOULD THEY TAKE AWAY FROM YOUR CAREER?

>> IF YOU HAVE A PASSION AND YOU WANT TO DO IT, DO IT.

DO YOUR HOMEWORK.

DON'T GIVE UP ON IT.

THERE'S DEMOCRATS, REPUBLICANS, LIBERALS, CONSERVATIVES.

I LIKE TO THINK I AM ROCK 'N' ROLL.

I HAVE THIS FEELING INSIDE OF ME , LET'S SHAKE THINGS UP A LITTLE HERE.

THAT'S WHAT MUSIC MEANS TO ME.

MICHELLE: THANKS TO BILL BARTHOLOMEW FOR THAT REPORT.

MOST RED LANDERS -- MOST RHODE ISLANDERS KNOW THE STATEHOUSE FOR THE STRIKING BEAUTY.

CONSTRUCTED MORE THAN 327 THOUSAND CUBIC FEET OF MARBLE AND 15 MILLION BRICKS, THE DOME IS THE FOURTH LARGEST SELF SUPPORTED DOME IN THE WORLD.

SITTING ON TOP OVERLOOKING THE ENTIRE STATE IS THE INDEPENDENT MAN.

WHICH REPRESENTS FREEDOM AND INDEPENDENCE, IT CAPTURES THE INDEPENDENT SPIRIT THAT HAS HELPED TO ESTATE.

-- DEFINED THE STATE.

TONIGHT, HOW THE STATE WENT FROM HAVING FIVE STATEHOUSES TO JUST ONE.

MICHELLE: THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY -- C. MORGAN: THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY MOVES INTO ITS NEW HOME.

THE GREAT RHODE ISLAND STATE HOUSE.

IN 1900 THE SECRETARY OF STATE MOVED IN FOR THE BUILDING WAS COMPLETED.

IT WOULD STILL BE SEVERAL MONTHS BEFORE THE GOVERNOR OF RHODE ISLAND AND HIS STAFF TAKE RESIDENT.

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY MOVES AND IN JANUARY AND BEGAN THEIR FIRST SESSION.

A BUILDING THAT WOULD REPRESENT THE WEALTH AND POWER OF THE CITY OF PROVIDENCE IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND.

BY THE 19TH CENTURY, RHODE ISLAND WAS LARGELY OPERATING WITH TWO STATEHOUSES.

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY WAS SPLITTING HIS TIME BETWEEN THE OLD STATEHOUSE AND THE COLONY HOUSE IN NEWPORT.

SESSIONS WERE HELD IN DIFFERENT TIME.

PERIODS.THEY WOULD HOLD THEIR SESSIONS WHEREVER EASIEST.

A LOT OF THE BUSINESS OF THE STATE WAS BEING CONDUCTED IN PROVIDENCE.

IT STARTED TO MAKE SENSE THAT PERHAPS ONE CAPITAL MADE MORE SENSE THAT HAVING MULTIPLE CAPITALS.

ESPECIALLY IN SUCH A SMALL STATE.

THE OLD STATEHOUSE IS A BEAUTIFUL BUILDING.

IT WAS LEAR EARLY ON THAT IT WAS NOT LARGE ENOUGH FOR THE GROWING OPERATIONS OF A STATE THAT WAS GROWING EXPONENTIALLY AND POPULATION AND A CITY THAT WAS BECOMING OVERWHELMED IN TERMS OF POPULATION.

THEY NEEDED TO OBTAIN LAND, PICK A LOCATION THAT WOULD BE pACCESSIBLE TO MANY PEOPLE BUT WOULD ALSO MAKE A STATEMENT.

THERE'S A LOT OF POLITICS IN THAT, WHO OWNED THE LAND?

HOW WOULD YOU BUY THE LAND?

IT TOOK A WHILE TO CONVINCE THE POWERS THAT BE THAT THIS WAS WORTH THEIR TIME AND ATTENTION.

IT WAS GOVERNOR HERBERT LADD IN THE LATE PART OF THE 1880'S IS REALLY ABLE TO MAKE THAT CASE THAT A NEW STATEHOUSE IS NEEDED.

$1.5 MILLION TO BE SPENT ON THIS BUILDING.

THEY QUICKLY FIND OUT THAT WAS NOT NEARLY ENOUGH.

THEY FOUND THE WORKERS THEY WERE LOOKING FOR IN THE ITALIAN COMMUNITY.

THE ITALIAN COMMUNITY IS GROWING RAPIDLY IN PROVIDENCE AND THE SURROUNDING AREAS.

THEY SAY IT WAS THE ITALIAN COMMUNITY THAT PROVIDED THE BEST LABORS THEY COULD FIND.

IT DIDN'T COST FAR MORE THAN THEY IMAGINED.

IT ENDED UP COSTING $3 MILLION RATHER THAN THE 1.5 THEY FIRST ALLOCATED.

THERE WAS ONE WORK STOPPAGE.

THEY HEARD THERE WAS ANOTHER STATEHOUSE BEING BUILT IN MINNESOTA.

THAT THEY WERE CONSTRUCTING A RATHER LARGE DOME.

THERE WAS AN ASSESSMENT AS TO WHETHER OR NOT OUR DOME SHOULD BE MADE BIGGER.

THE MINNESOTA DOME IS LARGER THAN OURS.

THAT WAS ONE OF THE FEW SLOWDOWNS.

THERE WAS A SENSE, THEY WERE LOOKING AT CLASSICAL ARCHITECTURE.

IT IS INFUSED WITH THE TEMPLE AND ECCLESIASTIC ARCHITECTURE.

THEY'RE LOOKING AT GRAND MONUMENTS LIKE THE BASILICA.

THEY VIEW THAT AS A STATEMENT OF POWER.

REMEMBERING TOO THAT THESE STATE CAPITALS ARE REALLY SEEN AS TEMPLES TO DEMOCRACY.

OUR CAPITALS FUNCTION IN A VERY SYMBOLIC WAY.

THEY ARE A STATEMENT OF THE SANCTITY OF DEMOCRACY.

OF THE GOVERNMENTAL FUNCTIONS.

OF THE CONSTITUTION FOR A STATE OR NATION.

THOSE BUILDINGS ARE BUILT AS MONUMENTS.

MANY PEOPLE HAVE ARGUED DEMOCRACY IS THE RELIGION OF AMERICA.

IN THAT CASE THESE BUILDINGS BECOME THE TEMPLES OR CHURCHES TO THAT.

MICHELLE: OUR THANKS TO MORGAN GREFE.

COMMENTATOR SCOTT MCKAY SEES A LOT OF PARALLELS.

SCOTT: AFTER EIGHT TO JEWISH PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN AND AN ATTACK ON THE CAPITAL IT IS TIME FOR A REFRESHER ON AMERICA'S CIVIC CULTURE.

THERE ARE RECENT POLLS THAT SHOW THAT BARELY HALF OF ALL AMERICANS COULD NAME THE THREE BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT.

OTHER STUDIES SHOW THAT MOST PEOPLE CAN'T PASS THE CITIZENSHIP TEST REQUIRED OF IMMIGRANTS WHO SEEK TO BECOME AMERICANS.

TOO MANY OF US DON'T KNOW WHY WORLD WAR II WAS BOUGHT OR EVEN WHAT OUR GENERAL ASSEMBLY DOES.

LAST YEAR A GROUP OF RHODE ISLAND SCHOOLCHILDREN WENT TO FEDERAL COURT TO FORCE THE GOVERNMENT TO PROVIDE CIVICS TRAINING IN SCHOOLS.

JUDGE WILL SMITH DISMISSED THE CASE.

HE PRAISED THE STUDENTS AND URGED THE STATE TO PROVIDE CIVIC EDUCATION IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

WHAT THESE YOUNG PEOPLE SEEM TO REALIZE IS AMERICAN DEMOCRACY IS IN PERIL.

CHIEF JUSTICE ROBERTS SOUNDED THE ALARM RECENTLY.

HE SAID WE HAVE COME TO TAKE DEMOCRACY FOR GRANTED AND CIVIC EDUCATION HAS FALLEN BY THE WAYSIDE.

RHODE ISLAND WITH ITS HISTORY IS A FERTILE STATE TO REVIVE THE TEACHING OF GOVERNMENT.

COLONIAL RHODE ISLAND WAS AT THE FOREFRONT OF THE FREEDOM OF RELIGION AND SELF-GOVERNMENT.

IT WAS ALSO AMONG THE MOST ACTIVE COLONIES IN THE SLAVE TRADE.

OUR CONTACT STATE HAS A TRADITION OF THE SITES.

EVERY STUDENT SHOULD GET TO EXPERIENCE SUCH LANDMARKS SUCH AS THE SLATER MILL, THE MUSEUM OF WORK AND CULTURE AND THE JOHN BROWN HOUSE.

TEACHING CIVICS AND HISTORY DOES NOT HAVE TO BE DULL.

STUDENTS COULD WORK ON PROJECTS TO FOLLOW CURRENT EVENTS TO TOWN HALL OR AT THE STATEHOUSE.

THEY COULD LEARN MEDIA LITERACY FROM INTERNET SESSIONS.

THE GOOD NEWS IS LAST YEAR THERE WAS BIPARTISAN SUPPORT IN THE ASSEMBLY FOR REQUIRING CIVICS EDUCATION.

THEN COVID SHUT IT DOWN.

IT MUST BE REVIVED.

THEY NEED SOME KIND OF AGREED-UPON PAST.

THEY COULD GET IT FROM SCHOLARS OR GET IT FROM DEMAGOGUES.

GET IT THEY WILL.

MAYBE IT IS TIME WE MADE PROFICIENCY IN CIVICS A REQUIREMENT FOR HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION.

WE SHOULDN'T BE MAKING STUDENTS SAFE FOR IDEAS,.

MICHELLE: OUR THANKS.

I AM MICHELLE SAN MIGUEL.

FOR ALL OF US, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AND PLEASE STAY SAFE.

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