Honoring Educators (Back to School Special); Q&A is Friday 1-2pmET
Welcome back to Lucid, and hello to all subscribers. Due to the holiday weekend, our next Q&A will be on Friday, Sept. 1, 1-2pmET rather than on Sunday evening. Paying subscribers will receive a link to register for the Zoom meeting on Friday morning. If you'd like to join us, you can upgrade your subscription or sign up as a paying subscriber here:
Many schools and universities in the U.S. have already started classes, but others, like my institution, begin right after Labor Day. This fall I am teaching courses on propaganda (timely!) and War and Cinema (World War One through drone warfare). Due to my teaching schedule, the main Lucid essay will be published on Wednesday rather than Tuesday, starting this week. The lunchtime Friday Q&As and monthly Sunday evening Q&As will remain the same.
In the meantime, in honor of "back to school" for educators, administrators, students, and staff, here is a roundup of my essays on threats to democratic models of education and what happens to educational institutions when authoritarianism takes hold.
To start, here is a syllabus on Italian Fascism if you'd like to learn more about the regime that influenced Adolf Hitler and many other dictators.
Here is an essay on attacks on critical thinking and academic freedom in far-right countries such as Hungary and in Republican America. As I conclude:
"What happens on campus reflects and often anticipates democratic decline.”
And here's a post about the role of informers in and out of the classroom. It moves from the Fascist era to today. In it, I also discuss being placed on Professor Watchlist, the site run by Turning Point USA to intimidate academics and try and get them fired. And here is the 2021 CNN piece that prompted that authoritarian action: it called out "parent's rights" as a smoke screen for far-right activism.
Want a primer on PragerU? Here is my essay on the far-right propaganda machine now in Florida schools. Its content brings a toxic mix of conspiracy theories, racism, homophobia, anti-feminism, and neoliberalism to children and teens.
Finally, let's give our support to school librarians, who were already overworked and underpaid before becoming targets of the far-right. Here is an essay on the civic function of libraries and their importance for democracy. It is dedicated to librarians and library staff across America, and to a family member who worked for many years as a library clerk in an elementary school.
Ruth -- thank you for mentioning the role of informers. I taught high school math in a semi-rural, very red area. When I was new to the high school, it was between classes, but several people overheard an exchange I had with a student who was already seated. I was writing the day's agenda on the whiteboard. The student asked me if I voted for Obama. I replied, "I not only voted for him, I canvassed for him in both elections." Then the student said, "Then I'll have to kill you." I laughed, thinking it was just a joke (this was in about 2013.) Nothing came of that, and I continued a witty, good-natured dialog with that student the entire school year. However, he or one of the observers must have told the principal, who I later learned was in the Tea Party. Suddenly I was over-observed and over-critiqued as a teacher! I kept having to explain classroom decisions I made.
I got zero disciplinary backup from the principal.
Finally, I had to quit. As I was approaching retirement and already had a thriving tutoring business, I quit rather than being transferred to the central office (which is what they do with "bad" teachers.) The more I think over those years, the more I think there was an informant involved. Growing up in an area where political discussion was free and fairly nonjudgmental (DC suburbs), I never thought to initially evade his question about Obama. Now I NEVER reveal my political beliefs to relative strangers unless I know they already agree with me. I continue to canvass for Democratic candidates.
I have to note that the many letters , talks, interviews , commentary here speak of accomplishments , ongoing progress and plans, putting others first and working towards betterment.
What I hear about the Republican Circus is wheel spinning , rev ruckus for their base, tactics of conquering and control, hatred, division ,bigotry ad infinitum.
Seems the American tax payer would be so sick of these representative banging the warning bells , coming up with no substance and based on nothing but THEIR philosophy ( plus still the lies).
What voter isn’t saying ‘I’m sick of this ‘ buffoonery , bluster , and bullshit . Doesn’t fly . Doesn’t provide alleged evidence...repeatedly. Overplays name calling , childish bully talk ...soooo boring.
Except to their base.
Bless their hearts...( WV saying)
And then there’s Biden out there telling accomplishments, goals, mostly of not even three years, respecting, smiling, forging ahead, as his staff works quietly towards yet more goal for all of us.
Sorta a no brainer , huh!
💙💙VOTE THE COMPLICIT ALL OUT💙💙