Education strengthens individual intellect and reinforces qualities like self-confidence, perseverance, curiosity, resilience and grit. Individuals who pursue an education are more likely to lead a more successful life than those who do not pursue an education because success is characteristic of qualities that education reinforces (Tough 2013). Many public intellectuals understand this relationship and actively work to strengthen the quality of education in the American school system. Stephen Mack states in his blog ‘The Decline of Public Intellectuals?’ that public intellectuals are “a special class of academics and philosophically oriented writers who go outside their own disciplines to comment on social and political issues (Mack 2007).” Education reform relies on public commenting from individuals who carry weight on public opinions. Robert Reich, an active public intellectual in the education reform movement, commits to creating a new education system that “gives teachers space to teach, and gives students space to learn (Reich 2015).” Reich offers a five-point proposal to reinvent education in the United States, stopping wall-to-wall testing, increasing federal funding for education, making public education free and prioritizing needs of teachers and faculty in academic settings (Reich 2015). Education reform, specifically Reich’s five-point proposal, is critical because it favors the success of all individuals and reinforces core personality qualities that are characteristic of success.
cordially, uncordial 