Last month I came across an article in The New York Times Magazine titled “Have We Lost Sight of the Promise of Public Education?”. Author Nikole Hannah-Jones shares a brief historical overview of how American public institutions and systems have long had a struggle between the democratic ideal of serving the common good and the strong influence of the private market economy. Hannah-Jones states, “If there is hope for a renewal of our belief in public institutions and the common good, it may reside in public schools”. I agree, and I believe in the value of the common good and see our work with All-In, in collaboration with our school partners, as creating positive social change. While public institutions that contribute towards the common good take many forms, high quality and inclusive public schools are a critically important space to help ensure a positive society full of engaged citizens willing to work together. What do you think? Have we lost sight of the promise of public education?
Lilly Green, Director of School Partnerships