Opinion

MARTHA MAcCALLUM, KELLY McKENNA: America's next 250 years begin on the playground

We have all seen the evidence that children have become more isolated, depressed and anxious in a society that has all of us glued to screens

By Martha MacCallum , Kelly McKenna Fox News

Published July 27, 2026 9:00am EDT

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As we enter the "dog days" of summer in this 250th, since our nation boldly asserted its independence, there is, as there should be, a good deal of reflection about who we are and what we truly value. As we look to the future, there is perhaps no more important measure than how we educate our children so that they can be strong protectors of our country and our democracy deep into the decades to come.

It turns out that a basic truth of well-being, getting fresh air and play time, plays a pretty big part in achieving that goal. It’s simple. It’s free. It stimulates and restores learning power, and, as it turns out, many of our children are getting precious little of it.

From the earliest days of the republic, education was never intended to be merely the efficient transfer of information. Reformers like Horace Mann, whose vision helped shape modern American education, argued that schools should prepare children not only for work, but for democratic life. Even the word kindergarten — German for "children’s garden" — reflects an understanding that young minds need room to grow, explore, play and develop.

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