Public education’s relationship to democracy

Knowledge provides power to learn, understand, discern and assimilate information. One of the goals of an effective public education is to promote the development of those traits and enable critical thinking.

It is the interaction of these developed characteristics that empower our ability to beneficially make personal decisions and contribute as citizens. The developments of those characteristics in all citizens lends greatly to sustaining the best ideals of a democracy.

This was the purpose for implementing public education in our country. However, failure to achieve those developments for all seriously jeopardizes our democracy and hinders the level field for healthy access to opportunity, liberty and the pursuit of true happiness.

As a country, we have recently fallen far short in attaining those goals. This is due to several major factors: a public education system that has been shortchanged and ineffective in too many communities across the country; a changing job market and declining living wages; the consequential loss of faith and trust in our government by many; the significant and appalling decrease of citizens who participate in the democratic process; and a government that increasingly has become more disconnected from working for all people and has become more corrupt and self-serving.

We cannot wait and hope that somebody else will do what is needed to reform our democracy so that it objectively focuses on serving all. Historically, the most monumental progressive advances for citizens have occurred when citizens were informed and collectively participated in advocating for the government to be more accountable in developing policies compatible to their needs (which is an important aspect of an ideal effective democracy).

To attain and preserve a country with standards and policies that work for the best interest of all citizens, we all must be willing to be informed and actively participate in a sustained effort to accomplish and maintain the best of a truly democratic society. We can and must begin by being educated (informed) and voting responsibly. Let your voice have a say.

Dion Smith lives in El Prado.