Schools and ‘Family Values': A Reboot of a Familiar Debate
April 10, 2026
Politicians have long called on schools to promote character and responsible decision-making, often pointing to fears of waning American competitiveness or societal declines if they fail to do so.
Over a span of decades, those conversations have snowballed and evolved, with calls from politicians of both major parties for schools to teach students how to make wise choices about everything from forming healthy sexual relationships and resisting illegal drugs to getting adequate exercise and avoiding “brain rot” through excessive screen time.
