Overview
The author argues that we are failing to prepare today's young people to be responsible American citizensâ€â€to the detriment of their life prospects and those of liberty in the United States of the future. He identifies the problemsâ€â€the declines in civic purpose and patriotism, crises of faith, cynicism, self-absorption, ignorance, indifference to the common goodâ€â€and shows that our disregard of civic and moral virtue as an educational priority is having a tangible effect on the attitudes, understanding, and behavior of large portions of the youth in our country today.Author Biography
William Damon is a senior fellow at the Hoover Institution, the director of the Stanford Center on Adolescence, and a professor of education at Stanford University. Damon's current research explores how young people develop character and a sense of moral purpose in work, family, and community relationships. He also examines how young people can approach careers with an emphasis on creative innovation, excellence, and social responsibility.