Education and Democracy Endangered

Because of my activities concerning public education, I was invited and attended a two-week seminar at Oxford University in England. Most of the participants were educators from countries just emerging from Soviet domination. In every case these officials described how the Russian Communist controls worked.

One of the first things the Communists did was to make the education system a tool to support this form of government. Basic learning took second place. I fear now the governors in Texas and Florida are trying to do the same. The first step has already been taken via the book banning pushed in both states. Legislation has passed to prohibit using books in schools which discuss guns, slavery, sexual choice and encourages preference of religion. All those dominated countries felt it necessary to rewrite most of their school curriculum because what they ended up with was so political.

The process of education involves learning to think! Closing the window on things you choose to disagree with is harmful to education but democratic government as well.