Schooling Bigotry

Schooling Bigotry is a limited series about the roles we can all play in defending democracy and confronting hate within our education system. The recommendations in these episodes are based on "Confronting White Nationalism in Schools: A Toolkit," published by Western States Center.

Part 2: Spheres of Influence

How can we—as educators, parents, and community members—push back against organized bigotry in schools? In this episode, Western States Center Fellows Adrienne van der Valk and Rae Page look at the strategies and tactics anti-democracy groups use, and talk to three educators about how they use their voices within their spheres of influence to...

  • Guide young people away from hate,

  • Empower themselves and their colleagues through community organizing, and

  • Create awareness of anti-democracy influences at the systems level.

Learn how you can use your sphere of influence to defend democracy and strengthen schools against hate in Part II of this limited series from Western States Center. Be sure to subscribe so you won't miss Part III, when we look at how to change and replace bigoted narratives—at the societal level, within our communities, and even in our homes.

Part 3: Tired But Inspired

Like all of us, young people in our schools and communities absorb powerful cultural narratives that influence their beliefs about themselves and each other. Unfortunately, in recent years, many of these narratives have been coopted by bigoted groups that seek to divide our communities and weaken our democratic institutions. In this final episode of our limited series, we speak to four experts to learn how narrative shifts occur and how we can empower ourselves to influence them…

  • At the social and cultural level,

  • At the community level, and

  • At the home and family level.

We also break down the stages of a moral panic, and point to examples of how we can help melt the snowball of the current anti-trans panic before it causes even more harm. Be sure to check out the resources we’ve gathered to support your listening and help you implement what you’ve learned at westernstatescenter.org/schoolingbigotry.

Part 1: Blackboard Battleground

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 ResourcesConfronting White Nationalism in Schools: A Toolkit Confronting Conspiracy Theories and Organized Bigotry at HomeEvolution of the Anti-CRT Movement: A TimelineAfter Election Day: The Trump Effect.