Opinion—If We Want To Preserve Freedom, Education Must Come First

Nations do not fail all at once.

More often, they drift—gradually losing the habits, knowledge, and shared

understanding that once held them together.

As the United States celebrates its 250th anniversary, it is worth considering not just how the country began, but what has sustained it. The answer is not found solely in institutions or laws, but in people—citizens of virtue and knowledge capable of exercising freedom with responsibility and wisdom.

That kind of citizenship must be formed.

For much of American history, schools took this responsibility seriously. Education was not limited to job preparation or basic literacy. It was understood as a civic enterprise: a way of preparing young people to participate in self-government. Students studied history not as a collection of dates, but as a narrative with meaning. They read primary sources, wrestled with competing ideas, and learned to articulate their own views with clarity. Just as importantly, they were expected to develop habits of discipline, respect, and perseverance.

In recent decades, the mission of public education has broadened considerably. For many families, that shift has prompted a search for alternatives. Here in Idaho—where communities place a high value on independence, responsibility, and civic participation—the demand for educational choice continues to grow. Parents increasingly want schools that prepare students not only for individual success, but also for meaningful contribution to society.

Among the educational models gaining renewed attention is classical education, which seeks to reclaim a time-tested vision of learning rooted in the pursuit of truth, goodness, and beauty that forms both the mind and the heart. Through a content-rich curriculum grounded in enduring ideas, American classical education cultivates in students the knowledge, virtue, and civic understanding necessary to lead meaningful lives and contribute to a free society. Its goal is not merely academic achievement, but the formation of thoughtful, virtuous citizens equipped to preserve the ideals of our country’s founding and promote the continuation of the American experiment.

The movement is growing rapidly nationwide. A recent article in The Epoch Times described the rise of classical education from roughly 150 schools in 2010 to more than 1,500 today. While schools differ in approach and emphasis, the underlying aim remains consistent: reconnecting education with its formative purpose.

As the nation reflects on 250 years of self-government, the stakes of this conversation become clearer. A free society cannot be sustained by structure alone. It requires citizens who understand it, value it, and are prepared to uphold it.

Education is where that preparation begins.

First published by CFG member Kyndal Dattani, July 01, 2026