Civic Foundations: Why Public Schools Matter to Democracy

Public education is more than a pathway to jobs or test scores. In Civic Foundations, Quentin P. Yarrow argues that strong public schools help sustain informed citizenship, shared opportunity, and democratic life itself.

With clear, accessible insight, this book shows how public schools:

Yarrow makes the case that democracy depends on more than voting. It depends on institutions that bring people together, prepare them to live with disagreement, and give every child a real chance to learn and participate.

For teachers, school leaders, policymakers, and anyone who cares about the future of democracy, Civic Foundations offers a timely reminder of what public schools make possible—and what is at risk when they are weakened or neglected.