Leading for Democracy: A Vital Agenda for Public School Principals
by John Rogers and Joseph Kahne
We live in a challenging time for American democracy. Deep fissures in our civic community along with the spread of misinformation undermine our commitment and capacity for public engagement and action. This weakening of our ability to solve problems democratically coincides with crises that demand our collective attention— a global pandemic, an urgent need to address racial injustice, threats to the environment, and more.
Historically, Americans have looked to our public schools to establish democratic commitments and enable young people to engage thoughtfully with societal issues. Yet, in recent decades, preparing students for college and the workplace has garnered more and more attention, often at the expense of civic preparation. Only about one in three high school principals in a national survey we conducted in 2018 cited “promoting informed participation in civic and community life” as one of their school’s top three goals.