--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Since the conception of our country…" description: "\"Since the conception of our country, America has held that parents, not schools, teachers, and certainly not courts, hold the primary responsibility of..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/078/john-doolittle-22274_america_since-the-conception-of-our-country-amer_644777.png" --- # Since the conception of our country, America has held that… ![“Since the conception of our country, America has held that parents, not schools, teachers, and certainly not courts, hold the primary responsibility of educating their children.” quote by John Doolittle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/078/john-doolittle-22274_america_since-the-conception-of-our-country-amer_644777.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/078/john-doolittle-22274_america_since-the-conception-of-our-country-amer_644777.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/078/john-doolittle-22274_america_since-the-conception-of-our-country-amer_644777.png) > “Since the conception of our country, America has held that parents, not schools, teachers, and certainly not courts, hold the primary responsibility of educating their children.” [John Doolittle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-doolittle/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. America traditionally assigns child‑education responsibility to parents rather than institutions. **In simple terms:** Parents are chiefly responsible for teaching kids. Key Takeaway Emphasize parental involvement in education. Themes family education responsibility government parenting Mood reflective concerned Type political social When to use this quote - parent‑teacher meetings - home schooling decisions - policy debates on school choice - family discussions about values Key Concepts civic duty family autonomy educational philosophy Questions to Reflect On - How can society support parents lacking resources? - What role should schools play when parents fall short? A Different Perspective Assumes all parents have resources and time to educate effectively. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Conception](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conception/) [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Court](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/court/) [Educating children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/educating-children/) [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Parent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parent/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Parents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parents/) [Responsibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/responsibility/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) [Teacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teacher/) ## Related quotes > [We must take responsibility for educating ourselves. Being part of a 'smart mob' doesn't guarantee that you're a responsible participant or collaborator.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-rheingold/we-must-take-responsibility-for-educating-ourselves-being-part-of-a/) [Howard Rheingold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-rheingold/) > [It is vital that when educating our children's brains that we do not neglect to educate their hearts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/it-is-vital-that-when-educating-our-children-s-brains-that-we-do-not/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [Educating all of our children must be one of our most urgent priorities. We all know that education, more than anything else, improves our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/educating-all-of-our-children-must-be-one-of-our-most-urgent/) [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) > [I think educating children at pre-school age is vital because then they are picking up good habits that become part of their lifestyle, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tana-ramsay/i-think-educating-children-at-pre-school-age-is-vital-because-then/) [Tana Ramsay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tana-ramsay/) > [But if you say that we should not educate children who have come into our state for no other reason than they've been brought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-perry/but-if-you-say-that-we-should-not-educate-children-who-have-come-into/) [Rick Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-perry/) > [We speak of educating our children. Do we know that our children also educate us?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lydia-sigourney/we-speak-of-educating-our-children-do-we-know-that-our-children-also/) [Lydia Sigourney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lydia-sigourney/) > [The brutal truth is, we're scarcely 'educating' children at all. Even if you overlook the guilt, fear, bigotry, and dangerous anti-intellectual flapdoodle being funneled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/the-brutal-truth-is-we-re-scarcely-educating-children-at-all-even-if/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [I'm convinced that promoting sport is an intelligent way of educating our children.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shakira/i-m-convinced-that-promoting-sport-is-an-intelligent-way-of-educating/) [Shakira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shakira/) > [Educating our children and giving them the skills they need to compete in a global economy is a smart investment in our country's future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheldon-whitehouse/educating-our-children-and-giving-them-the-skills-they-need-to/) [Sheldon Whitehouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheldon-whitehouse/) > [The government can't even do a good job of something as simple as running the Post Office. 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Nobody makes his or her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/there-is-no-other-complex-field-in-our-society-in-which-do-it/) [Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) > [There's nothing progressive about spending more on servicing your debt than on educating your children.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-kendall/there-s-nothing-progressive-about-spending-more-on-servicing-your/) [Liz Kendall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-kendall/) > [Educating children and their parents on the universal messages of free enterprise and self-determination takes money. So does grooming political talent within the community…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-campos-duffy/educating-children-and-their-parents-on-the-universal-messages-of/) [Rachel Campos-Duffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-campos-duffy/) > [At the federal level, we must help, not hinder, local school boards, parents, teachers and administrators as they make decisions about educating our children.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-kennedy/at-the-federal-level-we-must-help-not-hinder-local-school-boards/) [Mark Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-kennedy/) ## More by John Doolittle > [The last four years have not diluted the memory or weakened the resolve of our citizens. Four years later, our hearts still hurt for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-doolittle/the-last-four-years-have-not-diluted-the-memory-or-weakened-the/) [John Doolittle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-doolittle/) > [President Roosevelt, the author of Social Security, was the first to suggest that, in order to provide for the country's retirement needs, Social Security…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-doolittle/president-roosevelt-the-author-of-social-security-was-the-first-to/) [John Doolittle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-doolittle/) > [The Scouts are a private organization and have every right to set their own membership standards.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-doolittle/the-scouts-are-a-private-organization-and-have-every-right-to-set/) [John Doolittle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-doolittle/) > [As Americans, we can choose where we work and live, what we drive, which insurance plan is best for us, so why can we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-doolittle/as-americans-we-can-choose-where-we-work-and-live-what-we-drive-which/) [John Doolittle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-doolittle/) > [This war is being played in the realm of public opinion and has dire consequences for our soldiers in Iraq, the future of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-doolittle/this-war-is-being-played-in-the-realm-of-public-opinion-and-has-dire/) [John Doolittle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-doolittle/) > [There are some liberals eager to embrace a culture void of morals, but the majority of America is made up of honest, hard-working families…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-doolittle/there-are-some-liberals-eager-to-embrace-a-culture-void-of-morals-but/) [John Doolittle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-doolittle/) > [According to various polls conducted, the single most important issue in last week's election was not the Iraq War, not the War on Terror,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-doolittle/according-to-various-polls-conducted-the-single-most-important-issue/) [John Doolittle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-doolittle/) > [In light of these facts Republicans have put forth a variety of proposals to make Social Security remain solvent for future generations. But up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-doolittle/in-light-of-these-facts-republicans-have-put-forth-a-variety-of/) [John Doolittle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-doolittle/) > [Democracy is stronger than terrorism, and we will not cower to the terrorists' campaign of fear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-doolittle/democracy-is-stronger-than-terrorism-and-we-will-not-cower-to-the/) [John Doolittle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-doolittle/) > [The only way the Internet will continue to remain the thriving medium it has become today is to keep it under the control of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-doolittle/the-only-way-the-internet-will-continue-to-remain-the-thriving-medium/) [John Doolittle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-doolittle/) > [Turning the Internet over to the U.N. or some other phony international organization would be a disaster, and I am not willing to stand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-doolittle/turning-the-internet-over-to-the-u-n-or-some-other-phony/) [John Doolittle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-doolittle/) > [Bullying wasn't okay in elementary school and it isn't okay now, especially when it comes in the form of a U.S. Supreme Court decision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-doolittle/bullying-wasn-t-okay-in-elementary-school-and-it-isn-t-okay-now/) [John Doolittle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-doolittle/) > [Developments in medical technology have long been confined to procedural or pharmaceutical advances, while neglecting a most basic and essential component of medicine: patient…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-doolittle/developments-in-medical-technology-have-long-been-confined-to/) [John Doolittle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-doolittle/) > [The other thing I like, in fact, several months ago I introduced a bill to end the absurd catch and release policy where our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-doolittle/the-other-thing-i-like-in-fact-several-months-ago-i-introduced-a-bill/) [John Doolittle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-doolittle/) > [This resolution is further proof that Congress stands firmly behind our troops and remains resolved to pursue those responsible for the terrorist attacks of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-doolittle/this-resolution-is-further-proof-that-congress-stands-firmly-behind/) [John Doolittle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-doolittle/) [Explore all 27 John Doolittle quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-doolittle/) ## More America quotes > [The costs of the Bush-Obama wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are now estimated to run as high as $4.4 trillion - a major victory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-costs-of-the-bush-obama-wars-in-iraq-and-afghanistan-are-now/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [Well, The Day the Earth Caught Fire was a story... I don't if anybody knows what it is but it was about... in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-guest/well-the-day-the-earth-caught-fire-was-a-story-i-don-t-if-anybody/) [Val Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-guest/) > [So here's what I want you to know, and here's what I want all our men and women in uniform to know: Because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-here-s-what-i-want-you-to-know-and-here-s-what-i-want-all-our-men/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Today, the world looks to America for leadership. And America looks to its Corps of Marines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/today-the-world-looks-to-america-for-leadership-and-america-looks-to/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [The image of blacks usually is one of people who are suffering from hunger, unemployment, and poverty. The idea of them as agents and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-lee-boggs/the-image-of-blacks-usually-is-one-of-people-who-are-suffering-from/) [Grace Lee Boggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-lee-boggs/) > [ I'll smoke, I'll cough, I'll get the tumors, I'll die, deal? Thank you America. \[salutes\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hicks/i-ll-smoke-i-ll-cough-i-ll-get-the-tumors-i-ll-die-deal-thank-you/) [Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hicks/) > [America is a democracy and has no Hitler, but I am afraid for her future; there are hard times ahead for the American people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/america-is-a-democracy-and-has-no-hitler-but-i-am-afraid-for-her/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [I'm gonna bring America together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-m-gonna-bring-america-together/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [In the nineteenth century some parts of the world were unexplored, but there was almost no restriction on travel.:; Up to 1914 you did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/in-the-nineteenth-century-some-parts-of-the-world-were-unexplored-but/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [We need a system that serves our needs, not the needs of others. 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