Educating the masses

While Glendon offers a rich and interesting assessment of the current deterioration of the political discourse and civil institutions, I find her lack of attention on education while addressing these issues somewhat perplexing.

As I understood it, much of Glendon's argument was essentially about the way in which Americans have been socialized to rely on immediate satisfaction instead of long-term progress and allowing their focus to become ever more self-centered. Yet while she discusses the family as a primary factor in socialization and a primary player in this recent failure of political discourse, she doesn't take the time to address any of the other major areas of socialization.

She includes offhand mentions of churches and church groups without devoting any textual real estate to an analysis of it. This absence I can almost understand. The role of the church, while once foremost in our development as individuals and as societies, has slipped into a pastime that is optional instead of understood.

What I don't understand is her failure to address the role of education as a socializing factor and a contributor to the failings of the discourse. Unlike religious participation, education is not optional. Children spend a significant amount of time at school and being socialized by that experience. Isn't this worthy of discussion?

The slow slide of the quality of education, due in large part, in my mind, to the rampant budget cuts and excessive, attention-shortening technology, could play a major role in the crisis of language and society which Glendon has identified. The language of rights is first ingrained in our vocabulary at school in civics and history classes. We are taught to take pride in our country and our individualism. If we are to change this perception at home, wouldn't we also need to do this in schools?

What role has education played in the decline of political discourse? Can our current circumstances be improved without addressing the quality and content of the education our children are to receive?