Though we carry constitutions in our pockets & build beautiful monuments to democracy, America is but an idea. If we lose faith in the idea or stop convincing others of its justice, it ceases to exist. That is the challenge & fragility of our constitution.

Public education is an attempt to build that faith, secure a mature & prepared citizenry, & move toward a more perfect Union. It has, of course, never succeeded, but we are lost if we stop trying. 2/x

With the perversion and weaponization of information in the electronic age, public education may be our last best hope of maintaining freedom without cannibalizing ourselves. But to be clear, a public education system that can achieve that feat still requires enormous work. 3/x