As we reflect on 250 years of American exceptionalism, it’s natural to ask: what’s next, especially in the context of education? If America is to flourish in 2276, what should schools and universities be teaching today?
As Ronald Reagan said in 1961, “Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn’t pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same.” As we are inheritors of a great country and its constitutional tradition, this is our charge. We must educate each subsequent generation to help “keep” the Republic.
America’s Founding Fathers believed that knowledge and virtue are necessary to self-government. In their minds, the country would only endure if its citizens were united by shared knowledge and civic values.
Higher education was a top priority for George Washington. He was convinced that one of the main goals of higher education was to teach students “the science of government.” In his Eighth Annual Message, he said:
“In a republic what species of knowledge can be equally important and what duty more pressing on its legislature than to patronize a plan for communicating it to those who are to be the future guardians of the liberties of the country?”
In their minds, the country would only endure if its citizens were united by shared knowledge and civic values.A university education, to Washington, was where students should be deeply immersed in the principles, ideals, and history of their country.
James Madison shared this vision, which is why repeatedly asked Congress to establish a national university in the nation’s capital.. Such a national institution, to Madison, would spread “those national feelings, those liberal sentiments, and those congenial manners which contribute cement to our Union and strength to the great political fabric of which that is the foundation.”
These presidents and other Founding Fathers would be dismayed to see the state of civics education today. Americans are ignorant of the most basic facts about their country. Less than half of U.S. adults can name all three branches of government. Only 1 in 3 Americans can pass a test consisting of questions from the U.S. Citizenship Test. Such ignorance reflects our colleges and universities’ failure to transmit fundamental civic knowledge.
These presidents and other Founding Fathers would be dismayed to see the state of civics education today.Although we celebrate today, there is still much work to be done. Tomorrow, we resume the essential work of educating future generations in the shared knowledge and civic values that helped build our nation and will help it flourish for the next 250 years.
Jenna Robinson is president of the James G. Martin Center for Academic Renewal.
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Jenna A. Robinson
