Why Fascists Fear Critical Thinking and Public Education
A growing concern is the attack on public education and critical thinking by far-right forces, as explored in American Federation of Teachers (AFT) President Randi Weingarten's upcoming book, *Why Fascists Fear Teachers: Public Education and the Future of Democracy*. This trend includes slashing school funding, banning books, and promoting private school vouchers, all of which threaten the foundations of a well-informed and engaged citizenry. Weingarten argues that teaching critical thinking is crucial for resisting authoritarianism and maintaining a healthy democracy.
The Erosion of Democracy
Historians like Heather Cox Richardson emphasize that democracies often fall through legal and political manipulation rather than violent coups. Authoritarian regimes are becoming adept at circumventing democratic norms and institutions. Donald Trump's efforts to overturn the 2020 election and statements suggesting his supporters wouldn't need to vote after the 2024 election exemplify this trend. Political strategist Paul Weyrich's declaration that "I don’t want everybody to vote" underscores a desire to limit democratic participation.
Authoritarian Tactics and the Importance of Education
Ruth Ben-Ghiat, a prominent historian of authoritarianism, argues that fascist leaders aim to "damage or destroy democracy" by concentrating power in the hands of a single leader or elite group. An educated populace is more likely to resist authoritarianism and strengthen democracy. Research suggests a correlation between higher education levels and stronger democracies. For example, studies in Latin America have shown that individuals with more education are less likely to vote for authoritarian leaders. Trump's remark, "We won with poorly educated. I love the poorly educated," highlights a disturbing trend.
Attacks on Truth and Knowledge
Authoritarians actively undermine truth, knowledge, and critical thinking to control the population. Psychologist Bob Altemeyer's research in *The Authoritarians* identifies personality traits that make individuals susceptible to authoritarian leaders, noting that these individuals often reject critical thinking to maintain their beliefs. This creates a vulnerability to manipulation and disinformation. Trump's actions, such as falsely accusing immigrants of "eating pets," illustrate how misinformation can incite fear and division.
The Deliberate Undermining of Public Education
Research indicates that "blue states" tend to invest more in education than "red states," and students in red states often perform worse on academic assessments. Diane Ravitch warns that Trump’s policies could lead to a decline in educational quality. Trump's actions, such as asserting federal control over local school curricula and diverting public school funds to private school vouchers, threaten public education. In Oklahoma, the state superintendent attempted to mandate Bible instruction and the showing of pro-Trump videos in schools, furthering concerns about indoctrination. The goal is often to promote lies and indoctrination over knowledge and truth.
Book Bans and the Suppression of Knowledge
Fascists often resort to banning books to control access to information and limit critical thinking. According to the ACLU, over 3,000 books were banned in schools across America in 2023, disproportionately affecting stories about LGBTQ+ communities and people of color. This tactic has historical parallels, such as the Nazi book burnings in 1933, which targeted books that challenged their ideology. The book *It's Perfectly Normal* by Robie Harris, which provides age-appropriate information about sex and sexuality, has been frequently banned, despite its potential to provide vital information and even save lives.
The Fight for Literacy and Critical Thinking
In contrast to book bans, the AFT has distributed over 10 million free books to children and families to promote literacy and the love of reading. Initiatives like book giveaways aim to foster the love of reading, recognizing literacy as the key to knowledge. Weingarten recalls instances where these books helped children connect with their heritage and discover the joy of reading. The AFT partners with organizations like First Book to provide access to books, emphasizing the importance of helping children learn how to think, not what to think.
Moms for Liberty and the Culture Wars
Groups like Moms for Liberty, often funded by wealthy donors, have been accused of pushing culture wars by banning books and pride flags in schools. These actions are often designed to spread anti-LGBTQ+ hate and fearmongering, diverting attention from the defunding of public education. However, in many districts, Moms for Liberty school board members have been voted out of office, indicating that Americans oppose these far-right culture wars.
Randi Weingarten on the Looming Fascist Threat
In an interview with *The Progressive*, Randi Weingarten discusses her motivations for writing *Why Fascists Fear Teachers*. She aims to empower readers with an honest assessment of the current challenges and their historical context. Weingarten stresses the importance of addressing race and sexuality in the context of education, highlighting how fears and anxieties can be exploited. The book aims to spotlight teachers doing extraordinary work and serve as an organizing tool to create safe and welcoming learning environments for all children.
The Impact of COVID-19 and Misinformation
Weingarten explains how COVID-19 changed the relationship between schools and communities, exacerbating fears and anxieties spread on social media. The lack of regulation on social media and the amplification of false messages by outlets like FOX TV fueled a virulent anti-public-school backlash. Although Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona did not address these falsehoods effectively, Weingarten consistently spoke out against the misinformation.
Chris Rufo and the Undermining of Public Education
Chris Rufo is identified as a figure who popularized the false idea that critical race theory (CRT) was being taught in public schools, creating distrust in American public education. Weingarten emphasizes that the undermining of public education is an intentional strategy of the right, which favors school privatization. The right uses fear to instill panic in those who don’t know better.
Authoritarianism and Critical Thinking
Weingarten asserts that authoritarians denounce teachers who help students develop critical thinking skills because they want to control what children think. Teachers promote critical thinking and problem-solving to enable children to think for themselves, creating safe places where kids can build relationships. This is the antidote to fear and anxiety.
The Importance of Unions and Pluralism
Weingarten explains that unions are often targeted by conservative movements because they champion diversity and have historically been on the side of pluralism. For example, the AFT filed an amicus brief in Brown v. Board of Education. The right opposes efforts to promote democracy and create power and opportunity for students and working people.
Pushing Back Against Authoritarianism
Weingarten argues that the best way to push back against authoritarianism is to strengthen public education by opposing universal vouchers, charter schools, and the rollback of civil rights. She concludes that fascists attack teachers because of everything they do right: teaching critical thinking, creating safe communities, and organizing strong unions.
