Reality Education.  The institution of education, at least in the United States, is fairly typical of other social institutions in this country.  Most are not self-disciplined institutions — they do not take responsible action to correct faults, even when those faults are blatant and persistent; and they do not re-design themselves as learning organizations.  If we use William Glasser’s model of psychiatric therapy described in his book, ”Reality Therapy,” (especially pages 1–42) and define social institutions in the terms of being a “person” then what we see in education and politics and government are institutions that seem incapable of self-disciplining themselves to adapt to the changing reality of society. 

What also seems typical in this second decade of the 21st century is the existence of intransigent positions within these institutions that are in opposition to almost anything that is not in keeping with their narrow personal, professional or political interests.  As I discussed in Posts 19 and 20, concerning Reality Democracy, the positions seem extreme to the point where parties within education and within a political party would be willing to “go down in flames” as long as the other party failed, too…  … disregarding the common interests of their respective audiences. 

The rational alternative is to create solutions rather than trying to fix the old social (educational), political and economic/financial paradigms.  Fixing is not an option any longer.  Compromise, conciliation and mutual agreement are no longer viable options, at least as seen from within the positions of those institutions. 

Education in a socially sustainable society will provide systemic continuity throughout the lives of citizens beginning before their birth with the procreative couple.  Educating and training young adults in preparation for being partners and parents will be necessary to reinforce the family institution as primary enculturating institution of Social Sustainability.  Because the values of social sustainability are common to all people for all time, they are neutral and are not political or religious in nature.  “Family values,” within the context of socially sustainable values, takes on a completely new meaning when we strive to strengthen the family as a species-sustaining institution of enculturation.  Partners and parents are strengthened in their own social sustainability practices as they inform, educate and train their children to practice those same values; and, this begins before their first child is born.  Species-value enculturation then becomes everyone’s business, as learning, training and education will take place in every family.