Bob Herbert’s recent column in the New York Times, “Putting our Brains on Hold,” is a real wake-up call. In a nutshell, Herbert described the precipitous drop in quality of a U.S. education versus that of other developed nations over the last few decades. As a father of two young boys, I must say that I am deeply concerned for their future and for the future of our country.

Herbert notes: “The latest dismal news on the leadership front comes from the College Board, which tells us that the U.S., once the world’s leader in the percentage of young people with college degrees, has fallen to 12th among 36 developed nations.” While a college degree does not guarantee a productive, healthy citizen, it does tend to provide its bearer with certain advantages in today’s increasingly global economic community.

How are we going to compete in the generations to come if our peers are increasingly outperforming us in the field of education? I thank my lucky stars for the education I received in the public school system, but I shudder every time I read a story about the sagging test scores, the growing dissatisfaction amongst teachers and the school closures brought on by budgetary shortfalls.

A sound system of education is necessary to sustain a healthy, thriving economy based on democratic principles. An uneducated population is ideal for tyrannical rule. In fact, for our Republic to stay a Republic we must turn this ship around…and quickly.

A healthy Republic is built on intelligent public engagement and discourse. While I wouldn’t go so far as Herbert to call my fellows “a nation of nitwits,” I do know that the quality of debate often determines the quality of the outcome. Whenever uniformed, opinionated and shallow-minded thinking is the norm, the results are seldom satisfactory.

We have, as a nation, a rapidly diminishing “yolk sac” of reputation, resources and citizens capable of handling the opportunities still coming our way. Our infrastructure is aging, our educational system is lagging, our citizens are more financially and physically bloated than ever, yet the momentum built by the good decisions, hard work and ingenuity of our forefathers is still there. From what I can tell in my international travels, America still holds the majority of the cards but more are questioning who will own the deck.

What can you do? For starters, get informed about what is going on. Read from a variety of news sources so that you get as holistic a view as possible of current affairs. Second, get involved. Look for opportunities to serve your local community. Engage with the schools in your area, participate in programs that encourage literacy in your area and support those elements of America that gave you the advantages that facilitated your success, whatever that may be.

Speaking of literacy, the ability to read is one of the cornerstones of a good education. In short, literacy matters. How? Look at the statistics:

1. 85% of all juveniles who interface with the juvenile court system are functionally illiterate.
2. According to the Department of Justice: “The link between academic failure and delinquency, violence, and crime is welded to reading failure.” Over 60% of all prison inmates are functionally illiterate.
3. One in four children grows up not knowing how to read.
4. 90% of welfare recipients are high school dropouts.
5. 50% of adults cannot read a book written at the 8th grade level.
6. 20% of Americans read below a level considered necessary to earn a living wage.
7. The average kindergarten student has spent more time in front of the television than it takes to earn a bachelor’s degree.

The earlier we address this problem the better, in every sense. Illiteracy tends to breed illiteracy and the more a trend is allowed to develop unchecked, the more likely it is to become the new norm.

There are many more facets to the challenge we face in revamping our educational system, but I hope by highlighting this one you get inspired to stand up and be counted as a concerned citizen. One who is willing to contribute time or money or energy to the generation of practical and effective solutions.

It is one thing to complain about what ails our country and it is yet another to do something about it. As I mentioned before, a healthy Republic founded on democratic principles depends on vibrant public engagement. Sitting back with arms folded will not help to solve the problems we face as a country, as a people. Standing up and getting involved can.