KENT, Conn.—The House of Books will present James Traub, local author, journalist and historian for an author’s talk and signing of his new book, “The Cradle of Citizenship, How Schools Can Help Save Our Democracy,” Friday, April 17, at 6 p.m.
In “The Cradle of Citizenship,” Traub chronicles his year of observing public schools across the country, talking to teachers, scholars, and curriculum designers. Traub’s book is about the role that schools should play—and now largely fail to play—in preparing youth for democratic citizenship. He will be in conversation with Maud Abeel, who works with educators throughout the country.
America’s founders confidently believed that schools would teach young people to understand our political system and to engage in reasoned political debate as adults. Yet in 2022, national testing found that only 13 percent of students scored a “proficient” level in history. Adults do no better: only 40 percent can name the three branches of government.
Yet Traub also finds hope. Virtually all social studies teachers keep their personal views to themselves and encourage students to develop views of their own. He describes the “classical school,” a traditional model based on the study of great books and the conscious molding of character, which prompts students to discuss books and ideas with depth.
Traub has written extensively about international affairs, national politics, urban issues and education for The New Yorker and the New York Times Magazine. He teaches classes on intellectual history at NYU Abu Dhabi, and is a fellow of the Council on Foreign Relations. His recent books include “True Believer,” a biography of Hubert Humphrey, and “What Was Liberalism?” a history of liberal thought.
