When we think about parenting, lots of ideas typically come to mind: love, protection, guidance, discipline, communication, etc... .When the founders of this great and daring experiment in self-governance that we call a democracy first crafted the blueprints of the United States, they understood that such self-governance depended on the character or virtues of its citizens. They also understood that families played a critical role in socializing each subsequent generation to be the kind of citizens necessary for collaborative self-governance. If we want the benefits that democracy can afford us —like liberty, human rights, and equality then we need citizens who have democratic and moral character. Families, and in particular parents, must play a central role in shaping such future citizens.
