How did our education system become a high-stakes cultural battleground? Why would any group or organization want to target a school? In this episode, Western States Center Fellows Adrienne van der Valk and Rae Page explore these questions by investigating three stories about schools experiencing anti-democracy organizing or bigotry. 

• An educator is targeted for teaching about bias—a topic her state’s academic standards require her to address. 
• A student comes to school glorifying weapons and bragging about his association with a local militia group. 
• Teachers grapple with a new state law requiring them to teach “both sides” of controversial issues—including the Holocaust. 

Learn what these scenarios have in common and how we got here in Part I of this limited series from Western States Center. 

Be sure to subscribe so you won't miss Parts II and II, in which we'll look at the many ways educators, families, community members, and students are fighting back and defending democracy in schools.

Related Resources

• Confronting White Nationalism in Schools: A Toolkit 
• Confronting Conspiracy Theories and Organized Bigotry at Home
• Evolution of the Anti-CRT Movement: A Timeline
• After Election Day: The Trump Effect
• Episode Transcript