Fulfilling the Public Purpose of Schooling: Educating the Young in Support of Democracy May Be Leadership's Highest Calling

During the past dozen years, the author has spent hundreds of hours discussing the relationship between education and democracy in seminars with groups of school- and university-based educators. Serving the public good in a democracy means serving the common weal, that of both the individual and the collective. The citizens of a democracy must understand the intricacies of serving both, of their responsibility for ensuring liberty and justice for all. Educating the young for this responsibility and for their appreciation of the benefits of democracy becomes the common mission of educators and of their educators.