“Democracy cannot succeed unless those who express their choice are prepared to choose wisely. The real safeguard of democracy, therefore, is education.”

– Franklin D. Roosevelt

Such a timely quote by Franklin D. Roosevelt. As educators, school leaders, parents, and involved citizens, we must remember our role in preparing students to choose wisely. Education will always be important to the success of democracy. As we end one year and enter a new, we should reflect on how we are raising and educating our children.

What will the world be like for the next generation? What skills will our children need? How will they gain these skills? Who will influence our children the most? As the world becomes more diverse, how will society change and how will our students respond to that change? These are deeply philosophical questions, but they are at the root of democracy. Looking at the roots of American democracy may help us in answering these questions.

“Educate and inform the whole mass of the people…they are the only sure reliance for the preservation of our liberty.”

-Thomas Jefferson

The question is, where will our students get educated and where will their information come from? How will they become informed citizens? We all have a duty to make sure that our children are critical thinkers. While protecting them from our personal biases, we should encourage them to look at a variety of sources before drawing conclusions. Original thinkers built our country. We need more.

“Real liberty is neither found in despotism or the extremes of democracy, but in moderate governments.”

-Alexander Hamilton

Modern politics is a mess. It’s hard for me to believe that we have become a nation of extremism. If you disagree, just start a conversation with a neighbor you don’t know well. You’ll likely find that you have far more in common than not. We can do a better job of making sure that our children respect the views of others, especially when those views are counter to ours. You can find a middle ground with almost any fundamental belief. Finding it is always worth the struggle.

“Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it.”

-Thomas Paine

We all want life, liberty, and the freedom to pursue our happiness. They are such fundamental cornerstones of democracy. The Declaration of Independence speaks to all of us, not a select few. Our children need us to remind them that our country was founded on principles that apply to everyone. More importantly, action is required by all of us to ensure those freedoms. Democracies require participation. We must be tireless in pushing our children to become active, contributing members of society, not sideline observers.

No matter your political beliefs, it should be obvious that our country can be and do better. Other nations look to us. We stand as an example to the world. We stand as example to our children. What kind of an example is the question? We can do and be better. We must.

You can follow Chris on Twitter @principal64.