Can people become the best versions of themselves? And if so, what role should public education play in that journey?

In this episode of Public School Kids, Erika traces the surprising religious roots of America's public school system, exploring how the Second Great Awakening transformed the nation's understanding of human potential. As Americans increasingly embraced the belief that people were capable of growth, educators like Horace Mann argued that public schools should cultivate not only knowledge, but character. Education became a way to develop judgment, responsibility, integrity, and the habits necessary for democratic citizenship - a philosophy known as self-culture.

Erika is joined by former Montana Governor Marc Racicot, whose own public school education and lifelong faith shaped his understanding of leade ...