American public education has lost sight of its purpose. Too often, progressive political agendas take time away from teaching core academic learning to children.

A glaring example is the anti-ICE agenda that has infiltrated classrooms, where students are encouraged — and even instructed — during learning time to make signs and stand on street corners to protest during the school day. Many of these children have little to no accurate understanding of the issue and have not been given objective facts or context to evaluate it critically.

Instead of learning to think for themselves, students are guided toward a particular political viewpoint. This undermines critical thinking, erodes intellectual development, and wastes precious learning time that should be spent on core academic content.

The end result of this miseducation of American schoolchildren is reflected in the woke worldview and the lack of basic reading, writing, math, and reasoning proficiencies that students leave with after 13 years of schooling. Students are left unprepared for college, career, and responsible citizenship. This hinders the student’s success and harms the future of our nation.

There is a better way, and that involves the long overdue return of education to its central purpose — preparing students to live, work, and thrive in a free society. The Phoenix Declaration, initially released last year, provides clear direction for families, schools, and policymakers to achieve this goal. The declaration outlines seven principles that should shape American education. A forthcoming book titled “The Phoenix Principles: Toward A Rebirth of American Education,” edited by Jason Bedrick and James V. Shuls, walks readers through each principle.

First among those principles is parental choice and responsibility, which recognizes that parents are the primary educators of their children and must be empowered to select the education that will best serve their unique child and be the ultimate decision-makers.

Second, the declaration outlines that transparency and accountability are foundational principles. More specifically, schools must be transparent with parents about their children and what is taking place in the classroom. Transparency with parents is the best form of accountability.

Third, the core of education is the teaching of truth and goodness. It is essential that students know facts and reality over ideologies, and that they are taught personal responsibility for choosing good over evil.

Fourth, the writers of The Phoenix Declaration state that “a central purpose of education is to transmit humanity’s accumulated knowledge and wisdom, as well as our nation’s particular culture and heritage, to the next generation.” This involves teaching an accurate account of our nation’s history.

Fifth, is character formation, recognizing that education includes a child’s moral development. Part of the character development process requires that students be taught self-discipline and personal responsibility, and that they are held accountable for themselves.

Sixth, academic excellence, largely missing from today’s traditional government-run schools, is foundational to education fulfilling its central purpose. According to the declaration, “schools should prioritize a rigorous and content-rich curriculum rooted in foundational subjects such as math, literature, science, history, civics, and the arts.” Furthermore, there must be an emphasis on “core knowledge and tried-and-true pedagogy rather than fads or experimental teaching methods.”

Seventh, is citizenship, which acknowledges that a free republic can only survive if students understand, value, and, in turn, uphold civic principles. To achieve this, students must be taught an accurate historical narrative, including the founding documents, gain civic knowledge, and cultivate a gratitude for and love of country.

The Phoenix Declaration offers a clear vision for restoring American education. When schools partner with parents, are transparent, teach truth, cultivate strong character in students, create high academic standards, and hold students accountable, individuals are better prepared for success in life and citizenship. Schools should be places where students gain knowledge, learn discipline, and understand the history and principles of our nation — not training grounds for political activism.

If we truly want America and her people to flourish, we must reclaim the real purpose of education. Families, teachers, and policymakers must insist that schools focus on strong academics, moral development, and civic understanding. Our future depends not on protests or political trends, but on educated, responsible, and free-thinking citizens who are capable of preserving the liberties that define our country.