Restoring a Vision for American Education
The founders bet everything on the idea that educated citizens could preserve this Constitutional republic. That bet is still on the table, and now it's our turn to prove them right.
The following remarks were addressed to my fellow Florida State Board of Education members, presented at the Florida State Board of Education meeting August 20, 2025. These remarks have been edited for errors and clarity.
Good morning, fellow board members, distinguished guests, educators, parents, and citizens of Florida.
As I have the honor of serving as your new chair, I want to begin by reflecting on the profound responsibility we, as board members bear—not merely as stewards of an education system, but as guardians of the very foundation upon which our Constitutional republic rests.
Why the Founders Cared So Much About Education
Our nation’s founders understood with remarkable clarity that education is not simply about individual advancement, but about the survival of liberty itself. Thomas Jefferson warned us that “If a nation expects to be ignorant and free, in a state of civilization, it expects what never was and never will be.” This wasn’t hyperbole—it was a stark recognition that self-government demands citizens capable of governing themselves.
James Madison, the architect of our Constitution, wrote in Federalist 55 that republican government “presupposes the existence of these qualities in a higher degree than any other form.” Madison understood that without an informed and virtuous citizenry, the delicate balance of our constitutional system would collapse under the weight of faction and ignorance.
John Adams captured this truth even more directly when he observed that “Public virtue cannot exist in a nation without private virtue, and public virtue is the only foundation of republics.” Education, therefore, is not merely about transmitting knowledge—it is about forming character and cultivating the civic virtues essential to freedom.
What That Means for Us Today
Which brings us to our mission today. I would propose a framework for our work here as members of the Florida State Board of Education. Education is the cornerstone of individual opportunity, family flourishing, and national prosperity. Every child should have access to a quality, content-rich education that fosters the pursuit of the good, the true, and the beautiful, so that they may achieve their full, God-given potential.
And we must never forget that America’s system of self-government is predicated upon an informed and virtuous citizenry. Our schools must do more than prepare students for careers—they must prepare them for citizenship.
Seven Things We Need to Get Right
As we guide Florida’s education system, I believe we must be anchored by these fundamental principles drawn from the Phoenix Declaration:
First, Parental Authority and Choice. Parents are the primary educators of their children, and our policies must respect this sacred relationship. When we honor parental rights, we strengthen both families and our democratic institutions.
Second, Transparency and Accountability. Schools must work with parents, not in place of them. Full transparency about curriculum, policies, and student wellbeing isn’t just good policy—it’s essential to maintaining the trust that makes public education possible.
Third, Truth and Moral Foundation. Our students deserve an education grounded in objective truth, free from ideological manipulation. They must learn that good and evil exist, and that human beings have both the capacity and duty to choose good.
Fourth, Cultural Transmission. We must intentionally pass on America’s founding principles, our history, and our heritage. As the Phoenix Declaration reminds us, a civilization survives only if it intentionally transmits its history, traditions, and values—including its yet unrealized aspirations—to the next generation.
Fifth, Character Formation. Education must cultivate the virtues necessary for self-governance. Students must learn that choices have consequences and that personal discipline is the foundation of freedom.
Sixth, Academic Excellence. We must prioritize rigorous, content-rich curricula in foundational subjects. Our students deserve to be challenged and to achieve their full potential.
Seventh, Civic Education and Patriotism. We must teach students the civic knowledge and virtues necessary for self-government. They must understand our founding documents, our system of ordered liberty, and develop what the Declaration calls “gratitude for and attachment to our country.”
The Stakes Are Real
Fellow board members, we live in “a time of moral and political crises, when too many schools have lost their way.” But this moment of challenge is also a moment of opportunity.
The American experiment that began with the bold assertion that “all men are created equal” and “endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights” depends on each generation understanding and cherishing these truths. If we fail in our educational mission, we risk losing not just academic achievement, but the very principles that make America a beacon of hope to the world.
What I'm Committed To
As we begin our work together, I want to assure the parents, teachers, and citizens of Florida that this board will be guided by these timeless principles. We will work to ensure that every Florida child receives an education that prepares them not just for economic success, but for the higher calling of citizenship in this great republic.
We will champion parental rights, demand transparency, insist on truth, celebrate our heritage, build character, pursue excellence, and cultivate patriotic citizens who understand both the privileges and responsibilities of freedom.
The founders trusted that an educated citizenry would preserve this Constitutional republic for future generations. Today, that sacred trust rests with us. Let us prove worthy of it.
Thank you, and let us begin our important work together.
