Why Fascists Fear Teachers

“If you want the truth about the fascist plan to destroy education in America, look no further than this book by Randi Weingarten. Blending poignant historical examples with her decades of frontline experience, Weingarten advocates for critical thinking and education and lays out with great clarity the stakes for future generations of the fight to save American democracy.” —Ruth Ben-Ghiat, author of Strongmen: Mussolini to the Present“Weingarten’s book is an excellent summation of why extremists have attacked teachers in recent years. It is a celebration of teachers and an eloquent portrayal of why public schools are essential for our democracy.” —Diane Ravitch, author of Reign of Error: The Hoax of the Privatization Movement and the Danger to America’s Public Schools“Why Fascists Fear Teachers delivers a stirring tribute to the power of teachers and the classrooms they lead. Educators are on the front lines of the struggle for truth, equity, and freedom. To stand with teachers is to stand for democracy itself.” —Melinda Person, president of New York State United Teachers“Randi Weingarten has fearlessly led the fight to protect our nation’s students, teachers, and public schools. This book is an essential road map for how all of us can unite to strengthen public education for our children and defend the fundamental rights and freedoms that give every person the opportunity to succeed.” —Liz Shuler, president of the AFL-CIO“Through compelling stories from classrooms to capitals and with her signature fighting spirit, Weingarten pulls no punches about the extremist assault on education through corruption and capture of democratic decision-making and shows how teachers are leading the growing resistance worldwide.” —David Edwards, general secretary of Education International

Randi Weingarten has served as the elected president of the AFT, a union of 1.8 million educators, health care professionals, and public-service workers, since 2008. For ten years prior, she headed the United Federation of Teachers, the union representing educators in New York City’s public schools, and before that taught social studies at Clara Barton High School in Brooklyn, New York. She has degrees from the Cardozo School of Law and the Cornell School of Industrial and Labor Relations.