WHY FASCISTS FEAR TEACHERS
A WITTY EXPLORATION OF PUBLIC EDUCATION’S ROLE IN DEMOCRACY
In the annals of history, few figures have been as universally feared by authoritarian regimes as the humble schoolteacher. Sure, dictators may quake at the sight of a protest or a ballot box, but nothing sends chills down their spines quite like a classroom full of kids learning to think critically. It’s no wonder that Randi Weingarten’s new book, *Why Fascists Fear Teachers: Public Education and the Future of Democracy,* is causing waves. The president of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) has written a fiery defense of public education, and let’s just say it’s giving certain political figures heartburn.
Weingarten’s book doesn’t pull punches. It takes aim at the Trump administration’s educational policies, critiques far-right attacks on schools, and dives deep into the role teachers play in preserving democracy. If you’ve ever wondered why banning books and defunding schools are staples of authoritarian playbooks, this book is your answer. Spoiler alert: it’s not because they’re worried about kids failing algebra.
Public Schools: Democracy’s Secret Weapon
Let’s start with the basics. Public schools are more than just places where kids learn how to spell “photosynthesis” and figure out why the mitochondria is the powerhouse of the cell. They’re incubators for democracy. They teach young minds to ask questions, challenge assumptions, and coexist with people who might not share their opinions—or their lunch preferences.
Weingarten argues that this inclusivity is precisely what makes public schools a target for authoritarian forces. “Fascists fear teachers because teachers empower students to think critically,” she writes. And if there’s one thing authoritarians hate, it’s empowered citizens who know how to spot nonsense when they see it.
But it’s not just about critical thinking. Public schools also serve as equalizers, offering opportunities to children regardless of their background. They’re melting pots where kids from different races, religions, and socioeconomic statuses learn to work together—a concept that might as well be kryptonite to regimes built on division and fear.
Teachers: The Unsung Heroes of Democracy
If public schools are democracy’s secret weapon, then teachers are its frontline warriors. Weingarten paints them as defenders of truth, champions of empathy, and custodians of honest history. They’re the people who teach kids about the Constitution—not so they can memorize it for a test, but so they can understand why it matters.
Of course, this makes teachers prime targets for authoritarian regimes. As Weingarten points out, fascists don’t go after educators because they’re bad at their jobs; they go after them because they’re *too good* at their jobs. Teaching kids to question authority? To understand systemic inequality? To empathize with others? That’s dangerous stuff if your goal is to consolidate power through fear and ignorance.
The book takes readers on a whirlwind tour of historical examples, illustrating how fascist regimes have consistently targeted education to suppress dissent. From book burnings in Nazi Germany to censorship in modern-day authoritarian states, the pattern is clear: control the classroom, and you control the future.
The Trump Administration’s War on Schools
Weingarten doesn’t shy away from calling out specific policies under the Trump administration that she believes undermined public education—and by extension, democracy itself. From promoting private school vouchers to defunding public schools, she argues that these efforts were less about improving education and more about consolidating power.
Take the misuse of critical race theory (CRT), for example—a topic that has become a political lightning rod in recent years. Weingarten points out that conservative narratives around CRT exploit fear and anxiety to attack public education, painting teachers as villains simply for teaching kids about America’s complex history. It’s the equivalent of blaming your dentist for cavities because they dared to explain how sugar works.
And then there’s the issue of book bans. Nothing screams “authoritarian vibes” like removing books from libraries because they make people uncomfortable. Weingarten highlights how these bans disproportionately target marginalized communities and often focus on books that promote empathy and understanding—two things authoritarian regimes would rather you skip entirely.
Why Critical Thinking Is a Threat
One of the book’s most compelling arguments is its emphasis on critical thinking as a cornerstone of democracy—and why authoritarian regimes fear it so much. When citizens are taught to analyze information, ask questions, and consider multiple perspectives, they’re much harder to manipulate. Propaganda loses its punch when people know how to fact-check it.
Weingarten also delves into research showing that higher levels of education strengthen democracies, while less education correlates with support for authoritarian leaders. It’s not rocket science: educated citizens are less likely to fall for conspiracy theories or blindly follow demagogues promising easy solutions to complex problems.
The Role of Teachers’ Unions
Another key theme in the book is the importance of teachers’ unions—not just in advocating for educators but in defending democracy itself. Weingarten argues that unions are one of the last heavily organized workforces in America, making them a thorn in the side of autocratic forces that prefer disorganized opposition.
She also addresses how public perception of teachers and unions has improved post-COVID, as people witnessed firsthand the Herculean efforts educators made to keep kids learning during a global pandemic. If you’ve ever tried explaining fractions over Zoom to a roomful of eight-year-olds, you’ll know why teachers deserve every ounce of respect they get—and then some.
A Call to Action
Ultimately, *Why Fascists Fear Teachers* isn’t just a critique; it’s a call to action. Weingarten urges readers to support public education, protect teachers from political attacks, and resist efforts to devalue schools as mere pawns in ideological battles. She encourages individuals to pursue teaching as a career—not just because it’s rewarding but because it’s transformative for society at large.
The book also highlights promising developments like career and technical education programs, which show strong results in graduation rates and college attendance. These initiatives offer hope for bipartisan efforts to improve education outcomes—proof that not everything has to devolve into partisan bickering.
Why You Should Read This Book
If you care about democracy—and let’s face it, who doesn’t?—*Why Fascists Fear Teachers* is a must-read. It blends historical analysis with personal anecdotes, weaving together a compelling narrative about why public education matters more than ever. The tone is passionate but witty, making even the most complex topics feel accessible (and occasionally laugh-out-loud funny).
Whether you’re an educator, a parent, or just someone who enjoys watching authoritarians squirm at the thought of empowered citizens, this book will leave you inspired—and maybe a little angry at the state of things. But hey, anger can be productive when channeled into action.
So grab your copy from Penguin Random House or Amazon—or better yet, support your local bookstore—and dive into this fiery defense of public education as a cornerstone of democracy. Because if there’s one thing we’ve learned from history, it’s this: fascists may fear teachers, but they should fear educated citizens even more.
'Why Fascists Fear Teachers' explores how attacks on education undermine democracy : NPR https://www.npr.org/2025/09/18/nx-s1-5484236/why-fascists-fear-teachers-explores-how-attacks-on-education-undermine-democracy
Why Fascists Fear Teachers | American Federation of Teachers https://www.aft.org/column/why-fascists-fear-teachers
Randi Weingarten on Why Fascists Hate Critical Thinking https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-features/randi-weingarten-excerpt-fascists-hate-critical-thinking-1235428379/
Why Fascists Fear Teachers - Penguin Random House https://sites.prh.com/whyfascistsfearteachers
Amazon.com: Why Fascists Fear Teachers: Public Education and the Future of Democracy eBook : Weingarten, Randi: Kindle Store https://www.amazon.com/Why-Fascists-Fear-Teachers-Education-ebook/dp/B0DQNKX2QM
Book Talk: Randi Weingarten — Why Fascists Fear Teachers - YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=POhccoV3Z6M
Scheduled for Oct 7, 2025 #booktube #books Watch author Randi Weingarten's book talk and reading at Politics and Prose bookstore in Washington, D.C. Attacks on schools and teachers have long been a hallmark of fascist regimes: One of Hitler's first tasks after taking power was to force every teacher in the country to pledge fealty to the Nazi Party. 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. 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. Weingarten is in conversation with Valerie Strauss is an education writer. She wrote at The Washington Post on local and national education for 30 years and authored The Answer Sheet blog, which chronicled the most vital issues in the world of education. Strauss started at the Post as assistant foreign editor for Asia after stints at Reuters serving as national security editor, and at United Press International as assistant foreign editor and reporter. PURCHASE BOOK HERE: https://politics-prose.com/book/9798217045419?
