The simplest definition of a democracy is “government by the people”. This is a system of government where citizens have a voice and a vote in government policies and in electing the people that represent them. For a democracy to work at its simplest level the citizens must be formally educated to understand, participate in and maintain generations of democracy. Democracy also enables people to overcome barriers, both social and economic and achieve their greatest potential that may have been stifled by a different form of government.

Prior to educational reforms in the mid-1800s most poor or middle class people could not afford the luxury of a private education. A full democracy cannot be supported when only a minority of its citizens is educated. To improve this country, educational reformers started public schools supported by taxes so the average man could be educated and therefor better qualified to participate in and understand the true nature of democracy.

Public education is much more than just learning to read and write; it supports a huge social structure. Children attend school five days a week, six hours a day, taught by qualified teachers with planned lessons. School also helps children develop the social skills they need as adults. Learning to get along with others, sharing, speaking up, voicing opinions, developing relationships and challenging themselves are all skills needed to maintain a democracy. As students advance in their education they learn how to act around one another. In the first grade a young boy may cry when he does not know how to solve a math problem. But, as he advances through his schooling he matures by being with his peers and realizes that crying over a math answer is not an acceptable reaction. He now has the advanced skills to ask a teacher for help. The ability to know when to seek help is a lifelong skill.

The United States is seen as a strong democracy around the world. It strives to have its citizens have high literacy rates and test scores in order to compete with other countries. The US works very hard to be able to compete in the world market where education and innovation are essential to stay ahead. Without helping each and every citizen in every state go to school and complete a high school education the US could easily fall behind. It would be a shame to lose public education and only have the elite be able to attend schools because no democracy can thrive without giving each of its citizens the opportunity to be educated.