Education & Leadership

The Role of Education on the Commons

A vital democracy rests on an educated citizenry. If we are to govern ourselves wisely as a people, citizens must be able to think critically, distinguish between truth and distortion, fact and opinion, wisdom and cant. We must equip ourselves with the knowledge and skills necessary to function well in a complex society. And we must develop the attitudes and moral compass that we will need to deal effectively with the bewildering diversity and ethical complexity surrounding us.

Education on the Traditional Commons

One of the most prominent buildings on the traditional village commons was the schoolhouse. At a time when few people could read, the schoolhouse served as a repository of knowledge, and the school master or marm was a respected, if underpaid, member of the community. An eighth-grade education represented more than adequate learning for successful adulthood.

Education on the New Commons

That schoolhouse has long since morphed into the largest single industry in the country, ranging from private daycare centers and inner city elementary schools to multi-purpose high schools and massive research universities. Viewed as a whole, the American education system is a Byzantine mix of public and private institutions teaching a dizzying wash of skills and knowledge and resting on a wide range of values.

Most Americans expect our schools to educate their students in the knowledge they need to function as citizens, the skills they need to get productive jobs, and the attitudes necessary to live well as members of their communities.

But this means teaching far more than the traditional three Rs. We have placed enormous burdens on our schools as we expect them to babysit our children, inculcate our particular values, train them in sophisticated technologies, impart knowledge that most adults lack, and serve a vital purpose on the commons. Our nation is stunningly diverse. How can we acknowledge this diversity while teaching common knowledge, skills, and values?