The reading, "Preserving the Republic," made clear to readers what our country went through to make our schools the way they are today. This is not saying that today our schools are perfect and politics are not an issue, but what we should take under consideration is what these men did for our education. In the past readings we have been talking about equality with races, religion, culture, ect. , and still this is an issue after hundreds of years. Yes, we have come a long way, but we as a nation are not there yet. There is a quote, on page 20, that really brought this to my attention. It said, " the common school, a public institution that mixed students from all walks of life, was to teach a common denominator of political and moral truths that was nonpartisan and nonsectarian. Political parties and religious denominations should stop their quarrels and competition at the schoolhouse door. Let civic education work its magic." This statement to me is very powerful and true! The schools shouldn't be in the middle of all these political controversies. The schools are a place for people to learn and recieve an education. Maybe with the all of the education that is provided, someone someday will enlighten the rest of the country and take politics out of our schools.