U.S. schools are neglecting a key responsibility—preparing young people for their role as American citizens.
For the past 10 years or so, my research team at Stanford University has been interviewing young Americans in their high school and college years about what U.S. citizenship means to them. The range in their responses has been astounding.
Some aspire to positions of leadership in our society. They prepare themselves by studying history and keeping informed about current events, work for political campaigns or causes, run for student government, and organize effective efforts to change school policy on such issues as the elimination of athletic programs.