US: 250 Years Later – Part 45: Education

In 1776, education was not a universal system but a scattered patchwork shaped by wealth, geography, religion, and opportunity. Learning was often local, uneven, and deeply tied to social hierarchy. Two hundred and fifty years later, education stands at the edge of another transformation as artificial intelligence, changing economies, and new ideas about learning challenge long-standing assumptions. This letter follows America’s educational journey and asks what learning is truly meant to create.

Read the letter →