First and forth most, the goal of public schools is to inspire nationalistic ideals and promote a overall sense of unity into a new generation of a country. Otherwise, why should governments bother spending their money on schools? Public school education starts at an early stage in life, public schools have major influences on impressionable young minds. The government can instill their own morals and ideals into children who absorb them like a sponge. For example, every day at the start of school, all faculty and students are required to recite the Pledge of Allegiance, to instill pride in their country. They are being prepared to take part in America's democratic ideals; for a democracy to function, we need educated individuals that can participate in governing the country. Otherwise, how will our country be able to function?

                The second goal of public schools is to prepare its students to succeed in the future. Public schools offer a curriculum that trains students to work well with others and to develop their own creative thinking. They face problems they need to solve by applying the skills they learn in school to the real world. By learning what they need to succeed in the real world, the U.S. gets skilled and productive citizens and individuals that in turn provide for the government through taxes on their income, property, etc. This year, the Common Core State Standards Initiative will be fully implemented. The Common Core State Standards—which regulates the education  provided by public schools nationwide—has already been adopted by forty-five states, including Massachusetts (source: http://www.corestandards.org/).This initiative forces all public schools to teach the same key concepts so that all students will be on the same page and be able to compete and be successful in the global economy. 

                 Unless a nation can compete against other nations economically, no matter what ideals they embrace, the nation will fall apart. This has been proven over and over again in history. Take a look at countries that supported communism, such as North Korea. North Korea's communist ideals took away any incentives that a individual had to work hard. This in turn lowered their ability to compete against other more competitive countries that led the nation to fall behind technologically. So logically, the goal of public education in American democracy is to preserve American democracy for the future.



I'm not sure I quoted the source correctly, so if anyone could tell me how it is supposed to be done?