How to Educate an American: The Conservative Vision for Tomorrow's Schools

by Michael J. Petrilli, Chester E. Finn

In the years after A Nation at Risk , conservatives’ ideas to reform America’s lagging education system gained much traction. Key items like school choice and rigorous academic standards drew bipartisan support and were put into practice across the country.

Today, these gains are in retreat, ceding ground to progressive nostrums that do little to boost the skills and knowledge of young people. Far from being discouraged, however, conservatives should seize the moment to refresh their vision of quality K–12 education for today’s America. These essays by 20 leading conservative thinkers do just that.

Students, according to this vision, should complete high school with a thorough understanding of the country’s history, including gratitude for its sacrifices, respect for its achievements, and awareness of its shortcomings. They should also learn to be trustworthy stewards of a democratic republic, capable of exercising virtue and civic responsibility.

Beyond helping to form their character, schools ought to ready their pupils for careers that are productive, rewarding, and dignified. Excellent technical-training opportunities will await those not headed to a traditional college. Regardless of the paths and schools that they select, all students must come to understand that they can succeed in America if they are industrious, creative, and responsible.  

Anchored in tradition yet looking towards tomorrow, How to Educate an American should be read by anyone concerned with teaching future generations to preserve the country’s heritage, embody its universal ethic, and pursue its founding ideals.

Genres: Politics, Education

304 pages, Hardcover

Published February 24, 2020

Reviews

[Kayce Madancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyed this book and the perspective it brought. Being a very liberal person, it was good to hear other point of views. Considering it was an education book, it covered that one topic very well. Unfortunately, when discussing topics such as racial inequality, education is only scratching the surface. Although their ideas about schools and the facts that exhibited the racial inequity in our schools were good, it made me wonder how the authors behind the chapters would react if asked about what put people in those positions in the first place. The book only acknowledges small problems but fails to look at the bigger picture. It takes a somewhat ignorant angle in my opinion but that is a lot of my own bias talking.

[Laurie Elliot]

I was much too sleepy and fatigued this week to evaluate it fairly. Probably 4 or 4.5 stars... but I really do prefer solo projects. It was pretty eclectic. Some of the essays were so good. But others I found less interesting.

[Megan Ferguson · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting overview on options to consider in fixing American K-12 education, maybe not all practical, but some interesting and mostly workable ideas.

[Eric Koehrsen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just ok. 3-4 of the essays were thought provoking.