The Good Fight Randi Weingarten on the State of America’s Public Schools
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Sep 23, 2025 Randi Weingarten, President of the American Federation of Teachers and author of 'Why Fascists Fear Teachers', dives into the critical role of education in democracy. She argues that civics education is essential to combat polarization and tyranny. The conversation explores the impact of social media on learning and challenges in teaching civics amidst political backlash. Weingarten also highlights how demagogues target schools to suppress critical thinking, and discusses innovative approaches to student engagement and resource allocation.
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Civic Education Under Strain
- Public education's civic purpose remains vital but fragile amid polarization and exclusion.
- Weingarten notes historical consensus on education's civic role has frayed in today's divided politics.
Education As Defense Against Tyranny
- The founders saw education as a bulwark against tyranny and a way to cultivate critical thinking.
- Randi Weingarten says public education was meant to produce an informed electorate that resists dictatorship.
Civics Needs Context And Struggle
- Teaching civics must go beyond rote facts to include context, struggle, and meaning.
- Weingarten argues narrow civic facts alone are insufficient for critical thinking and engagement.
