A rousing defense of public education as the cornerstone of American democracy, by the woman attacked by the far right as “the most dangerous person in the world”
Attacks on schools and teachers have long been a hallmark of fascist regimes: Throughout history, as many dictators rose to power they began banning books and controlling curriculum. Fascists fear teachers because teachers foster an educated and empowered population that can see past propaganda and scare tactics. Fascists fear teachers because they teach young people how to think for themselves.
As the head of one of the largest teachers’ unions in America, Randi Weingarten is among the last lines of defense for American public education. For decades, she has sounded the alarm that attacks on teachers are part of a larger, darker agenda—to undermine democracy, opportunity, and public education as we know it. After the Trump administration declared its intention to dismantle the Department of Education, that alarm became undeniable. This book tells the story of what teachers do and why those who are afraid of freedom and opportunity try to stop them. It explains why all Americans should care about attacks on schools and teachers—whether they have school-aged children or not. In the past as today, the fate of the United States is inexorably intertwined with the fate of public education.
Drawing on history, stories from teachers on the front lines, and decades of experience with America’s public schools, Weingarten argues that teaching students to think critically is the key to defeating would-be dictators. She encourages teachers to continue focusing on their vital mission to help young people thrive—creating opportunity in safe and welcoming classrooms, promoting tolerance, and teaching problem solving, critical thinking, and healthy debate. She cautions against censorship and complacency, looking to the past to warn us all about what can happen if we devalue teachers and public schools.
A manifesto for our time, Why Fascists Fear Teachers is necessary reading for every American worried about the future of our democracy.
About the Author
Since 2008, Randi Weingarten has served as the elected president of the AFT, a union of 1.8 million educators, health care professionals, and public-service workers. For ten years prior, she headed the United Federation of Teachers, the union representing educators in New York City’s public schools, and before that taught social studies at Clara Barton High School in Brooklyn, New York. She has degrees from the Cardozo School of Law and the Cornell School of Industrial and Labor Relations.
Praise For…
“If you want the truth about the fascist plan to destroy education in America, look no further than this book by Randi Weingarten. Blending poignant historical examples with her decades of frontline experience, Weingarten advocates for critical thinking and education and lays out with great clarity the stakes for future generations of the fight to save American democracy.” —Ruth Ben-Ghiat, author of Strongmen: Mussolini to the Present
“Weingarten’s book is an excellent summation of why extremists have attacked teachers in recent years. It is a celebration of teachers and an eloquent portrayal of why public schools are essential for our democracy.” —Diane Ravitch, author of Reign of Error: The Hoax of the Privatization Movement and the Danger to America’s Public Schools
“Why Fascists Fear Teachers delivers a stirring tribute to the power of teachers and the classrooms they lead. Educators are on the front lines of the struggle for truth, equity, and freedom. To stand with teachers is to stand for democracy itself.” —Melinda Person, president of New York State United Teachers
“Randi Weingarten has fearlessly led the fight to protect our nation’s students, teachers, and public schools. This book is an essential road map for how all of us can unite to strengthen public education for our children and defend the fundamental rights and freedoms that give every person the opportunity to succeed.” —Liz Shuler, president of the AFL-CIO
“Through compelling stories from classrooms to capitals and with her signature fighting spirit, Weingarten pulls no punches about the extremist assault on education through corruption and capture of democratic decision-making and shows how teachers are leading the growing resistance worldwide.” —David Edwards, general secretary of Education International
