The National Coalition Against Censorship (NCAC) strongly condemns the recent Executive Order signed by President Trump that aims to censor the teaching of race, gender, and identity in American schools, entitled “Ending Radical Indoctrination in K-12 Schooling.”
Make no mistake, this Executive Order is not about ending supposed indoctrination in our schools— it is itself designed to indoctrinate and force state-mandated “patriotism” on our K-12 public schools. Forced patriotism flies in the face of the First Amendment and American values of liberty and free thought. The purpose of public education is to educate and not promote government propaganda in our schools and to stifle speech the government deems “Anti-American.”
Indeed, part of public education should be teaching First Amendment values, including the right to resist state coercion. As the Supreme Court has written in striking down previous attempts at forced patriotism in schools: “That they are educating the young for citizenship is reason for scrupulous protection of Constitutional freedoms of the individual, if we are not to strangle the free mind at its source and teach youth to discount important principles of our government as mere platitudes.” West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette (1943).
While the administration’s ability to enforce its federal propaganda is limited, it is of the utmost importance that teachers and school administrators resist the urge to self-censor their curricula or force students into conformity. The executive actions represent a dangerous use of government power that undermines the very foundations of free speech and democratic education in our nation.
At the heart of a democratic society is the right to engage with diverse ideas, including and especially those that challenge or disagree with prevailing government policy. The Trump administration’s order, which seeks to punish schools for teaching about systemic racism, gender identity, and other critical social issues, threatens the essential role of education in preparing students for active and informed citizenship. By banning disfavored political viewpoints in our public education system, these directives seek to suppress critical thinking and stifle the voices of marginalized communities.
This Executive Order stands in direct contradiction to these principles, targeting educational content about race, gender, and identity that is vital for students to understand the complexities of the world around them. These orders, which threaten to withhold federal funding from schools that teach about gender identity or systemic racism, effectively force schools to adopt a narrow, partisan curriculum that aligns with a specific political ideology at the expense of a diverse and inclusive education.
We are particularly concerned about the chilling effect these orders will have on educators and school administrators. Many are already fearful of engaging in honest discussions about race, identity, and history for fear of retaliation or punishment. This kind of self-censorship undermines the integrity of our education system and deprives students of their right to learn from a wide range of perspectives. The consequences of these actions could be severe, not only for students’ educational experiences but also for the long-term health of our democracy.
As an organization committed to defending freedom of expression, the NCAC opposes this executive order and calls on lawmakers, educators, and citizens to demand that our public schools remain spaces where the free exchange of ideas is protected. The freedom to learn, to think critically, and to explore diverse viewpoints is fundamental to the health of our democracy—and it is a right that must be protected for every student. It is critical that we empower educators to teach the full breadth of American history and identity, including the challenging and uncomfortable parts that reflect the reality of systemic inequality and the struggles for justice that have shaped our nation.