First Things Podcast Kids Aren’t Learning—Here’s What To Do (ft. Jason Bedrick)
May 29, 2025
Jason Bedrick, a research fellow in education policy at the Heritage Foundation, dives into transformative ideas for today's education landscape. He discusses the vital need for school choice and parental empowerment, emphasizing how red states are leading reforms post-COVID. Bedrick critiques the influence of ideologies in education, advocating for a conservative framework to foster civic virtues. He underscores parents' roles as primary educators and calls for a balanced curriculum that preserves cultural heritage through literature and the arts.
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Empowerment Through School Choice
- School choice empowers parents by providing alternatives and leverage against public school mandates.
- This leads to accountability and reform possibilities in education systems dominated by special interests.
Jason's Classical Education Journey
- Jason Bedrick discovered classical education only six or seven years ago after attending public and Catholic schools.
- He now sends his children to a private Jewish school and advocates classical education as needed in America.
Classical Education's Growth Challenges
- Classical education demand outpaces supply largely due to a shortage of trained teachers.
- Utilizing underused community spaces and school choice policies helps new classical schools grow affordably.