R Street’s program on Civil Society, Education and Work studies the building blocks of society and governing, including localism, federalism, social capital, tradition, philanthropy and mediating institutions. It produces research, analysis and commentary to inform policymakers’ work on a range of domestic policies. Our initiatives have a particular focus on schools and workforce training as essential contributors to America’s effort to form citizens, workers, and public leaders.
The Issue
Publications
Abbreviated pundit roundup: Trump’s attacks on democracy, climate change and more
Media Coverage
From the Daily Kos:
At USA Today, Casey Burgat, Charles Hunt and Trey Billing detail how the new freshman class is invigorating Congress with youth and fresh perspectives:
The Conservative SCOTUS Could Remake American Citizenship
Andy Smarick
Republican midterm Senate gains now augur the confirmation of more conservative federal judges, including the possibility of an additional Supreme Court justice. Critics contend an increasingly…
Why Schools Must Safeguard Free Speech
Andy Smarick
The parlous state of civic debate today is making it increasingly clear that America needs to rededicate itself to the beliefs and habits necessary for sustaining a democratic, pluralistic nation….
Hard Work
Eli Lehrer
Journalism professor Ellen Ruppel Shell has many strong views about the way people earn a living. Accordingly, her new book, The Job: Work and Its Future in a Time of Radical Change, weighs in on…
, Politico
What education wonks are watching on Election Day
Media Coverage
From Politico:
If a blue wave materializes, expect school funding to keep coming up.“So many governorships and state legislatures are currently controlled by the GOP that if there were a wave, we…
To Reform Campuses, Start with Pre-College Reforms
Andy Smarick
Free-speech advocates working to change the culture of college campuses have focused most of their attention on the campuses themselves. This work is necessary: Joseph Cohn of the Foundation…
Gov. Brown rolls back crazy laws against food sales
Steven Greenhut
My youngest daughter, a college agriculture student planning a career in dairy farming, cut her teeth at our mini-ranch outside Sacramento, where she raises Nubians. Those are great milk producers…
A call for intellectual humility
Media Coverage
From Philanthropy Daily:
But Andy Smarick, writing in the Weekly Standard, thinks they ought to read F.A. Hayek to learn a little intellectual humility—and be better able to do their…
How the other half learns: Reorienting an education system that fails most students
Media Coverage
From The Manhattan Institute:
A major reason for the small scale of high-quality CTE programs is their expense. Good technical training requires facilities, equipment, and expertise that most public…
, Ricochet
On conservatism as masochism
Media Coverage
From Ricochet:
At which point I look over at The Weekly Standard and read a piece called, “The Moral Ledger,” by Andy Smarick — and ponder the comparative enchantments of a monastery….