America Quote by Paul Kengor
“In part, it's almost surely a failure of modern education, whether K through 12 or higher education, or really both. Barack Obama went to Ivy League institutions like Columbia, which are reputed to be among America's top colleges. And yet, this very recent product of those American institutions is not publicly articulating an appreciation of the American founding or the founders and their vision for America.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Public Commentary on Education, 2023
The quote criticizes modern education for not fostering appreciation of American founding ideals despite elite schooling.
In simple terms: Education fails to teach founding values.
Reform curricula to include civic heritage.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- college courses
- high school civics
- public policy debates
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How can schools balance critical thinking with civic pride?
- What curricula changes would improve historical understanding?
May overlook diverse perspectives on national history.