Values

 No nation can sustain its health and stability without fundamental values that are shared by its people and can carry the nation through inevitable problems. A nation’s values have to be built through citizens who are decent human beings, who embrace integrity and compassion.

But how does this happen? Families are in trouble. The government is failing its citizens. Churches, for many reasons, have lost their ability to meet the spiritual needs of their followers. The answer to this problem, to me, is in the schools. But this is not an easy solution.

Schools are underfunded. Teachers are underpaid, under-respected and over-worked. Schools are forced to put too much of their energy into security concerns. Students are experiencing unprecedented mental health problems. Parents are interfering in the job of teachers. Many obstacles.

Look at the fat in the defense budget. Look at the waste in government programs. We have the money. This is the time to put all we have into assuring—for the health and future of the country—that every child has access to a quality education, which aims to produce capable and decent human beings.