The Education Wars: A Citizen’s Guide and Defense Manual

An “invaluable guide” (Forbes) to understanding and winning the fight for our public schools

“Essential reading for anyone who cares about the future of public education in the United States.” —Heather McGhee, bestselling author of The Sum of Us

Our public schools are on the front lines of a fierce battle. In communities across the nation, heated culture wars have erupted—threatening to undermine the very foundation of public education. Extremist groups are pushing book bans, demanding limits on what teachers can say about history, race, and gender, and rolling out aggressive campaigns for so-called “parents’ rights.” Meanwhile, the rise of school voucher programs diverts funding from public classrooms, putting critical resources—and students’ futures—at risk.

In this concise, incisive guide, which Kirkus Reviews describes as a “call to action,” journalist Jennifer C. Berkshire and education scholar Jack Schneider expose what’s driving these coordinated attacks and explain why schools are now so vulnerable. They tackle complex topics in “compact and accessible terms” (Jacobin), unpacking everything from book-banning trends and voucher schemes to the real stakes behind the “parents’ rights” rhetoric.

The Education Wars is more than an alarm; it’s a vital handbook for parents, educators, and citizens who care about the future of public education. Packed with timely information and actionable insights, this book charts a powerful “path for protecting the fundamentals of what makes public schools so important” (Booklist).