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Why Fascists Fear Teachers: Public Education and the Future of Democracy
America’s most influential teacher’s union leader tells the anti-fascist history of public education, warning that American teachers today are under a new fascist assault--from book bans to culture wars and organized groups of “concerned” parents dictating what can be taught.
In 1940, as Hitler was gaining power and territory across Europe, a Nazi puppet government was put in power in Norway. Teachers were among the first to publicly resist their rule—and they were winning. Frustrated that their attempts to recruit teachers into the party failed, the Nazis barged into Norway’s schools, beating teachers and students. When they still refused to submit, the Nazis closed the schools. But the teachers figured out how to teach in private. Increasingly incensed, the fascist government sent 1,300 teachers to concentration camps and 500 others to forced labor camps. Even there, teachers kept teaching--and students kept learning how to think for themselves.
As the head of one of the largest teacher’s union in the country, Randi Weingarten sees firsthand how today’s teachers are guarding American democracy against the threat of fascism. Drawing on history and decades of experience in the American public school system, she argues that teaching students to think critically is the key to defeating would-be dictators. She encourages teachers to continue promoting difference and healthy debate in their classrooms, and warns against censorship and complacency, looking to history to warn us all about what can happen if we devalue teachers and public schools.
Part history and part call to arms, Why Fascists Fear Teachers is a manifesto for American teachers from the author that Trump-appointed former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo once called “the most dangerous person in the world.” This deeply researched, urgent book from teachers’ greatest champion is necessary reading for our times.
In 1940, as Hitler was gaining power and territory across Europe, a Nazi puppet government was put in power in Norway. Teachers were among the first to publicly resist their rule—and they were winning. Frustrated that their attempts to recruit teachers into the party failed, the Nazis barged into Norway’s schools, beating teachers and students. When they still refused to submit, the Nazis closed the schools. But the teachers figured out how to teach in private. Increasingly incensed, the fascist government sent 1,300 teachers to concentration camps and 500 others to forced labor camps. Even there, teachers kept teaching--and students kept learning how to think for themselves.
As the head of one of the largest teacher’s union in the country, Randi Weingarten sees firsthand how today’s teachers are guarding American democracy against the threat of fascism. Drawing on history and decades of experience in the American public school system, she argues that teaching students to think critically is the key to defeating would-be dictators. She encourages teachers to continue promoting difference and healthy debate in their classrooms, and warns against censorship and complacency, looking to history to warn us all about what can happen if we devalue teachers and public schools.
Part history and part call to arms, Why Fascists Fear Teachers is a manifesto for American teachers from the author that Trump-appointed former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo once called “the most dangerous person in the world.” This deeply researched, urgent book from teachers’ greatest champion is necessary reading for our times.
256 pages, Hardcover
Published September 16, 2025
180 people are currently reading
2141 people want to read
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October 6, 2025
Why Fascists Fear Teachers: Public Education and the Future of Democracy starts with the invasion of Norway by Hitler and the overwhelming resistance by teachers in Norway. Teachers were required to join a Nazi teacher network. Twelve thousand out of fourteen thousand teachers refused to join. When physical intimidation didn't work, the Nazis closed schools in Norway. The teachers held classes in private locations and continued teaching and kept promoting freedom of information and freedom of thought.
Very powerful and memorable opening about the role of teachers and education. Public schools are and always have been the key opportunity engine for America's future. Public schools are our North Star. They set children up for success, creating opportunity for all that is essential to the good of our nation.
Why Fascists Fear Teachers: Public Education and the Future of Democracy focuses on the four foundational things they do that are important to the future of our students and the well-being of our nation:
1. Teachers teach critical thinking
2. Teachers create welcoming and safe communities
3. Teachers create opportunity for every young person to have their shot at the American dream
4. Teachers build strong unions
Several key quotes include:
* Thomas Jefferson: Educate and inform the whole mass of people; they are the only reliance for the preservation of our liberty.
* Timothy Snyder: The whole point of fascism is that you reject reason in favor of will.
* Frederick Douglas: Education means emancipation. It means light and liberty. To deny education to any people is one of the greatest crimes against human nature.
* FDR: The real safeguard of democracy is education.
* JFK: Only an educated and informed people will be a free people. The ignorance of one voter in a democracy impairs security for all.
* MLK: Education must enable one to sift and weigh evidence, to discern the truth from the faults, the real from the unreal, and the facts from the fiction. The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically.
* LBJ: Freedom is the right to share fully and equally in American society.
* LBJ: Education is the only valid passport from poverty.
Author, Randi Weingarten, is the elected president of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT). 90% of students attend public schools. Weingarten thoroughly explains the voucher system and how it primarily helps wealthy students and damages public schools. Politicians who attack diversity, equity, and inclusion do it to turn Americans against each other while exacerbating inequality. School vouchers use taxpayer money to pay for religious schools, homeschooling, or private schools for the super-rich while dismantling public education for others.
During the 2024 election, Donal Trump repeatedly alleged that children were getting gender confirmation surgery at school. In 2019, Trump's Secretary of Education, Betsy DeVos attacked public school teachers as union bullies. The point of these attacks is to despair teachers. The far-right smears public schools and public-school teachers in order to push school privatization.
In 2023, 110 bills were introduced in state legislatures attempting to curtail what teachers can and cannot do. Americans want our public schools to be strengthened, not discarded.
I am proud that many family members are or have been public school teachers, including my daughter, daughter-in-law, aunt and stepmom. Teachers knit together a shared belonging, understanding, and purpose---the foundations of American democracy. Teachers create future leaders.
Very powerful and memorable opening about the role of teachers and education. Public schools are and always have been the key opportunity engine for America's future. Public schools are our North Star. They set children up for success, creating opportunity for all that is essential to the good of our nation.
Why Fascists Fear Teachers: Public Education and the Future of Democracy focuses on the four foundational things they do that are important to the future of our students and the well-being of our nation:
1. Teachers teach critical thinking
2. Teachers create welcoming and safe communities
3. Teachers create opportunity for every young person to have their shot at the American dream
4. Teachers build strong unions
Several key quotes include:
* Thomas Jefferson: Educate and inform the whole mass of people; they are the only reliance for the preservation of our liberty.
* Timothy Snyder: The whole point of fascism is that you reject reason in favor of will.
* Frederick Douglas: Education means emancipation. It means light and liberty. To deny education to any people is one of the greatest crimes against human nature.
* FDR: The real safeguard of democracy is education.
* JFK: Only an educated and informed people will be a free people. The ignorance of one voter in a democracy impairs security for all.
* MLK: Education must enable one to sift and weigh evidence, to discern the truth from the faults, the real from the unreal, and the facts from the fiction. The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically.
* LBJ: Freedom is the right to share fully and equally in American society.
* LBJ: Education is the only valid passport from poverty.
Author, Randi Weingarten, is the elected president of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT). 90% of students attend public schools. Weingarten thoroughly explains the voucher system and how it primarily helps wealthy students and damages public schools. Politicians who attack diversity, equity, and inclusion do it to turn Americans against each other while exacerbating inequality. School vouchers use taxpayer money to pay for religious schools, homeschooling, or private schools for the super-rich while dismantling public education for others.
During the 2024 election, Donal Trump repeatedly alleged that children were getting gender confirmation surgery at school. In 2019, Trump's Secretary of Education, Betsy DeVos attacked public school teachers as union bullies. The point of these attacks is to despair teachers. The far-right smears public schools and public-school teachers in order to push school privatization.
In 2023, 110 bills were introduced in state legislatures attempting to curtail what teachers can and cannot do. Americans want our public schools to be strengthened, not discarded.
I am proud that many family members are or have been public school teachers, including my daughter, daughter-in-law, aunt and stepmom. Teachers knit together a shared belonging, understanding, and purpose---the foundations of American democracy. Teachers create future leaders.
September 17, 2025
This is the book I've been waiting for. I have been wondering why all these crazy attacks are happening against our teachers and schools and this explains it. The extremists really want to end education for all and opportunity and FREE SPEECH and are gonna just attack and attack this book AND public school teachers. But if you care about democracy and a better future for our kids, you should read this -- and fight WITH teachers, not against them
October 3, 2025
Reading this book made me realize that teachers (and unions) are the backbone of this country. Our contribution in society is so important. We educate and grow our scholars to think and question. This is so important, especially at this critical time in our country’s history.
September 18, 2025
This book is both a history lesson and a call to action, and above all a story about the heroism of educators. At a time when schools are under siege from political culture wars, this book reminds us that teachers are not attacked for what they do wrong, but for everything they do right. She is clear about the threats facing public education, yet she writes with hope and determination. This book is timely and inspiring. Now more than ever we need stories that speak truth in the face of authoritarianism.
September 25, 2025
I really want to try to give this book an actual written review, but it’s a political piece in a lot of ways so I don’t want to give my actual opinion on that. Personally, I will always read both sides of the aisle, as I find the truth of most things is often somewhere in the middle.
I found a lot of this book to be opinion attacking 2 people, however I did find a lot of factual information in here. I will love to use the list of references the author provided so I can read into them myself as well.
One thing we can all agree on is this book is important, no matter where you fall in your political beliefs, because the students are important. Teachers are SO important and we have to support them.
I do enjoy the author’s writing style. I often find books of this nature to be hard to read, as there’s so much information being spit at you at once, and I did not find that to be the case here. It split up facts and anecdotes very well.
I found a lot of this book to be opinion attacking 2 people, however I did find a lot of factual information in here. I will love to use the list of references the author provided so I can read into them myself as well.
One thing we can all agree on is this book is important, no matter where you fall in your political beliefs, because the students are important. Teachers are SO important and we have to support them.
I do enjoy the author’s writing style. I often find books of this nature to be hard to read, as there’s so much information being spit at you at once, and I did not find that to be the case here. It split up facts and anecdotes very well.
December 11, 2025
Picked it up, did not finish. Terrible writing and terrible ideas.
This creature has no business being anywhere near children, or education. Unions in general are terrible, hers is monstrous. Her fascist stance that parents have little say in the education of their children, keeping kids out of classrooms due to the Scamdemic, and pushing deviant behavior as normal are reasons enough. However, every time she opens her mouth she spouts more leftist drivel.
I've been an educator for 34 years, and each year it is more important for parents to either educate their children at home, or get them in a good private school. Until the Randis and all their ilk are locked up in institutions where they belong, and education in American goes back to basics, to give children the tools be become good citizens, and not blue-haired baristas protesting everything they do not like as "FASCIST!"
This creature has no business being anywhere near children, or education. Unions in general are terrible, hers is monstrous. Her fascist stance that parents have little say in the education of their children, keeping kids out of classrooms due to the Scamdemic, and pushing deviant behavior as normal are reasons enough. However, every time she opens her mouth she spouts more leftist drivel.
I've been an educator for 34 years, and each year it is more important for parents to either educate their children at home, or get them in a good private school. Until the Randis and all their ilk are locked up in institutions where they belong, and education in American goes back to basics, to give children the tools be become good citizens, and not blue-haired baristas protesting everything they do not like as "FASCIST!"
December 14, 2025
Definitely a book people need to read. As a former teacher, a lot of this is already understood but the author does a great job sharing how scary censorship and anti intellectualism really is.
September 23, 2025
I ran to the book store on Sunday to buy this book and finished it on Monday. This is an absolute must read for anyone with children or anyone who cares about children and their futures. I learned a lot about vouchers and charter schools. Public education is a common good. It isn't broken. We just need to invest in it so that all children can have the bright future they deserve.
September 4, 2025
So someone who claims to be interested in a wide variety ideas automatically turns to fear mongering and name calling. This book is a zero for trying to remove the historical and traditional idea of parental rights when it comes to education. Who is the fascist now Randi?
December 14, 2025
I have to clarify that I am completely with Randi and the purpose of this book. It does a pretty okay job of making the case for the book's title, but I'm not sure it's written to convince the people who *need* to read it. And for people who agree with her, the book has too many platitudes that people who already think deeply about the history, purpose, relationship, and role of public schools in a democratic society will probably find filler, lines such as "Public schools and public school teachers help create thoughtful and engaged students capable of reviving and strengthening democracy and perpetuity. And fascists don't like that because fascists don't like democracy." Of course I agree, but so what?
I'd say it's a pretty good book for readers who are new to these issues, but I'm not sure it offers anything new or insightful for people who follow current events or have previously read any of the source material.
Jennifer Berkshire & Jack Schneider's recent books, A Wolf at the Schoolhouse Door and The Education Wars, do a *much* better job of making this case with better evidence AND providing solutions. Or go right to the source and read Dewey, Freire, Giroux, or other critical pedagogy thinkers.
I'd say it's a pretty good book for readers who are new to these issues, but I'm not sure it offers anything new or insightful for people who follow current events or have previously read any of the source material.
Jennifer Berkshire & Jack Schneider's recent books, A Wolf at the Schoolhouse Door and The Education Wars, do a *much* better job of making this case with better evidence AND providing solutions. Or go right to the source and read Dewey, Freire, Giroux, or other critical pedagogy thinkers.
October 23, 2025
Damn. This book makes me feel like a superhero for just doing my job, and frankly, in this political climate? I needed it.
The amount of fear and distrust towards public schools, education, equity, and basic critical thinking skills being thrown around these days is staggering and this book does a great job of situating today’s challenges in history.
Weingarten encapsulates and teaches how throughout various regimes of demagogic leaders in the world, education and teachers are the first to be villainized. She explains how as teachers, we are just trying to do our jobs, but ultimately those in power who are championing a fascist leadership don’t want an educated public and thus fight to destroy public education through the use of union busting, vouchers, pulling public funds, banning books, and causing fear of educators.
Was this a highly liberal take on education? Yes. But was it wrong? (My own experience unfortunately says) No.
The amount of fear and distrust towards public schools, education, equity, and basic critical thinking skills being thrown around these days is staggering and this book does a great job of situating today’s challenges in history.
Weingarten encapsulates and teaches how throughout various regimes of demagogic leaders in the world, education and teachers are the first to be villainized. She explains how as teachers, we are just trying to do our jobs, but ultimately those in power who are championing a fascist leadership don’t want an educated public and thus fight to destroy public education through the use of union busting, vouchers, pulling public funds, banning books, and causing fear of educators.
Was this a highly liberal take on education? Yes. But was it wrong? (My own experience unfortunately says) No.
November 25, 2025
"Public schools are more than physical structures. They are the manifestation of our civic values and ideals - the belief that in a free society, free education must be available and accessible to all. The idea that young people deserve opportunities to prepare for life, college, career, and citizenship. The understanding that in a pluralistic society such as ours, people of different beliefs and backgrounds must learn to work together and bridge differences. And the principle that an educated citizenry is essential to protect our democracy from demagogues."
November 29, 2025
4 stars-- This book is lowkey made in a lab for me! I learned a lot reading this book, especially about current events and historical milestones for teacher's unions. I do think some of the points were repetitive, even though these points are important. The writing could be tightened up a bit, and the voice and narration could be clarified. Still worth it :)
November 13, 2025
WHY FASCISTS FEAR TEACHERS: PUBLIC EDUCATION AND THE FUTURE OF DEMOCRACY by Randi Weingarten is more warning than why. And that scares me. It should scare you, too. The alarm bells are ringing. Read it now; learn the signs. Then resist.
September 25, 2025
This is a decent book, but it very much preaches to the choir about what teachers know and have been experiencing for the past decade. My biggest concern with it is that I feel it won’t change anyone’s minds on public education, vis a vis whether it needs to be supported more or not. Those who are for it are going to keep supporting it and public school teachers like me, and those who are for vouchers, charter schools, and the dismantlement of the US Department of Education will be just as oppositional as ever. Still… it felt good hearing validation for all the things that have been bothering me since my career started.
Want to read
November 23, 2025Adding this to my to-read list as Joyce Vance refers to it in her substack 'Civil Discourse' titled, Five Questions with Randi Weingarten, and it sparked my curiosity.
November 6, 2025
Doesn’t break any new ground, but provides important context to what is happening in our education system today. Also, public schools and public school teachers absolutely rock. And we should treat them better than we do.
September 19, 2025
A strong defense of public education, albeit a bit overly broad in focus.
October 1, 2025
A little repetitive in the writing, but I support the message. If the trolls can rate it 1 star, I can at least offset it with a 5.
November 23, 2025
I heard Randi’s interview with Sharon McMahon on The Preamble Podcast and wanted to learn more about her view on this subject. As a person who grew up in the “right to work state” of Texas, I never had much exposure to unions, so learning about that was fascinating.
Although this book paints a bleak picture for where we are currently, it also outlines so clearly how everything MAGA is pushing for is so clearly fascist and made to actually make America worse. It felt vindicating to see it factually laid out and to no longer just feel like I’m screaming into the void. It also offered some glimpses of hope for what’s to come as people continually choose to fight back against these agendas.
Although this book paints a bleak picture for where we are currently, it also outlines so clearly how everything MAGA is pushing for is so clearly fascist and made to actually make America worse. It felt vindicating to see it factually laid out and to no longer just feel like I’m screaming into the void. It also offered some glimpses of hope for what’s to come as people continually choose to fight back against these agendas.
December 9, 2025
Just generally disappointed. What was supposed to be a great topic turned out to be poorly communicated. The author spends much of the time talking about the benefits of education (great!) and what fascists are attempting and succeeding at doing to undermine teachers and students (oh no!), but not enough time on WHY fascists are attempting to do this and what can be done about it. I think twice - or maybe more when my brain was struggling to pay attention - the author mentions what is motivating the attacks by the fascists. And even then they boil it down to greed and accumulation of power without much more explanation. 100% agree with the premise, just terribly executed :/
November 12, 2025
It’s not an easy read; in fact it’s very depressing, but it shows how important it is for every individual to truly examine their own consciousness and use their BRAIN to truly understand what is happening right now in our country! Educators are trying to teach your children to think and question NOT indoctrinating them! Critical thinking is what is missing from many individuals! Truly LOOK at what’s happening and use your COMMON sense!!!! Education is EVERYTHING!!!!!
October 7, 2025
Teachers and supporters of education- please read this. It is a wake up call and a call to action for us all.
October 24, 2025
A fantastic book on teachers, unions, and being on the right side of history.
October 26, 2025
A must-read for everyone, not just teachers and parents. It explains the foundation of the attacks on teachers and public education and made me feel just a little hopeful at the end.
November 5, 2025
all bread, no meat
November 6, 2025
Fast listen. Left me hopeful and resolved to keep fighting for the teachers in my life. ❤️
November 7, 2025
Well this was a heart song for why us teachers do what we do!!
November 8, 2025
I didn't mind it, but it didn't -- aside from the individual vignettes of member teachers -- tell me anything I didn't already know.
December 10, 2025
Everyone should read this. She makes a lot of good points.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 86 reviews