As I reflect on my own public-school education, the moments I most vividly remember are those when my teachers imparted character lessons about famous Americans. I was entranced by the tales of all my favorite heroes; the truthfulness of George Washington when he confessed to cutting down his father’s cherry tree, (even if the story is fabled!) inspired when recalling Abraham Lincoln’s miles-long walk in bare feet to return a library book, and challenged to tinker after lea