America’s next 250 years begin in the classroom
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
As America celebrates its 250th anniversary, we have the opportunity to reflect on one of history’s greatest experiments.
The Founders built a nation like the world had never seen before, built not on inherited privileges but on the belief that every person has God-given, unalienable rights. They believed that free people could achieve more than concentrated political power could. This vision changed the world.
The United States has brought more people to prosperity than any other nation. No country has produced this much innovation. America consistently leads the world in philanthropy, volunteerism, entrepreneurship and scientific advancement. Millions came because the American dream was unique: the freedom to build a better life through opportunity.
MIKE PENCE: THE NEW GENERATION NEEDS FAITH IN GOD AND TRUST IN THE AMERICAN IDEAL
But today something has changed in our national perspective.
A growing number of young Americans are skeptical of capitalism and more trusting of government solutions. This should concern every American; not because government has no role, but because a free society depends on citizens who understand why freedom, limited government, personal responsibility, and free enterprise produce more opportunity than other alternatives.
So how did we get here? Much of the answer lies in the classroom.
RELATED REPORT EXPOSES HOW NATIONAL K-12 GROUP’S DEI AGENDA HAS BEEN INTRODUCED TO LOCAL SCHOOLS
Many students leave school without mastering the skills needed to succeed in college, business, and life. At the same time, schools increasingly emphasize America’s shortcomings while paying relatively little attention to the extraordinary ideas that are transforming the world: constitutional government, individual liberty, the free market, religious liberty, and equal opportunity under the law.
A Texas mother told Fox News Digital that she is “grateful to the Trump administration” for offering federal tax credit scholarships to advance school choice policies in the country after she had success with her own children. (Flickr)
America has never been perfect.
But it remains one of humanity’s greatest success stories because its founding principles have unleashed unprecedented freedom, innovation, opportunity, and prosperity, allowing each generation to build on those that came before.
WHILE THE RED STATE POSITIONED ITSELF AS THE ‘PLAN’ FOR THE NATION, ADMINISTRATION SANDERS ANNOUNCED A ‘MAJOR LEAP’ IN EDUCATION
Young Americans face legitimate challenges. Housing is cheaper. Inflation strained budgets. College graduates carry significant amounts of debt. Starting a family feels more and more out of reach. It’s understandable that government solutions are appealing.
America’s power has never come from creating government-dependent citizens. This is due to the training of citizens with self-government skills. This kind of freedom cannot be legislated; must be learned.
It starts with an education that teaches young people to think critically, work diligently, take responsibility and shape their own future.
If we want to protect America’s future, our biggest investment should not be in elections held every few years. It should be about educating the next generation academically, morally and civically.
I recently had two conversations with students that demonstrated this difference.
One specifically mentioned America’s shortcomings. The speech was marked by the belief that solutions to life’s challenges will come primarily from the government. There was little discussion of personal responsibility, opportunity, or the hope that could be built through hard work and service to others.
The other, educated in a classical Christian school, spoke of beauty, goodness, and truth. Our conversation focused on purpose, character, faith, and using one’s talents to serve others and strengthen communities. It was based on responsibility, not anger, and hope, not despair.
America’s education problem is no longer just about declining reading and math scores; But these should concern every parent. It is also about whether we are raising young men and women who believe they have the ability and responsibility to shape their own future.
Too many young Americans are graduating without the academic preparation needed to succeed, without a meaningful understanding of our nation’s founding principles, and without confidence that the American dream is still attainable. At the very moment when they should be entering adulthood optimistically, many feel disillusioned, anxious, and believe that their future depends more on the government than on their own initiative, perseverance, and ingenuity.
Parents are aware of this. Families across the country are seeking schools that not only provide academic excellence but also develop character, civics, personal responsibility and hope. They want environments that prepare children not only to earn a living but also to live with purpose and become thoughtful citizens who can sustain a free society.
That’s why the Education Freedom Tax Credit could become one of the most important education reforms of our generation.
Starting in 2027, Americans will be able to receive dollar-for-dollar federal tax credits for contributions made to qualified scholarship organizations that help students attend the school that best meets their needs. Rather than expanding another federal program, this initiative amplifies private generosity, strengthens civil society, and gives parents greater freedom to choose the education they believe is best for their children.
Students work in the library during class at DHH Lengel Middle School in Pottsville, Pennsylvania, March 15, 2022. (Lindsey Shuey/Republican-Herald, via AP, File)
This is a uniquely American solution that uses voluntary charitable donations to expand educational opportunities, rather than leaving more decisions in the hands of the government.
As we celebrate America’s 250th anniversary, our responsibility goes beyond the courage of the Founders. We must ensure that the next generation understands the principles that make their success possible.
Freedom survives only when each generation chooses to preserve it.
CLICK TO DOWNLOAD FOX NEWS APPLICATION
If we truly believe in freedom, opportunity, and the American dream, there can be no greater investment than helping every child access an education that prepares them to preserve and develop the greatest experience of self-government the world has ever known.
America’s next 250 years will be shaped not only by the laws we pass, but by the children we raise.
