Educating Each Generation for Democracy

The article discusses the National King Day of Service and affirms that educating our youth for citizenship is our most important public work. It is important to nurture the value of service and civic engagement in each generation if our country is to be caring and just. This fundamental ideal depends on a well-informed citizenry that understands the importance of engagement in civic and political life. Restoring the civic purposes of education should be paramount in any serious public dialogue about education reform. In addition to making civic education a priority in elementary and secondary schools, we should expand the definition and measurement of student achievement to include students' civic knowledge, skills, and contributions.