Public Education Has Preached Democracy for Centuries. Will Those Roots Be Strong Enough to Protect Democracy from Trump?

By Joe Rothstein

You’ve likely encountered this story more than once.

Shortly after delegates to the Constitutional Convention agreed on the details of the nation’s founding document, the wife of Philadelphia’s mayor asked Benjamin Franklin “what have we got, a republic or a monarchy?” Franklin replied, “A republic, if you can keep it.”

During the 233 years since, the nation has beaten back many assaults on our constitutional government. A…