Independence Day marks a milestone in American history, but it also represents something deeply personal for each individual. As the nation celebrated its 250th anniversary this weekend, it was clear that independence means more than just a date on the calendar. Whether people attended local celebrations or those on the National Mall, Independence Day means the freedom to express, to celebrate, and to honor this day in ways that reflect our unique values and traditions.

In the seventy years since Brown v. Board of Education desegregated public schools, there have been intense efforts made to privatize public education using vouchers. What has not been well documented, but is nevertheless true, is how the Christian Nationalist movement is jeopardizing public education using vouchers and some new methods to harm public education.

Trump Administration Pushes Patriotic instead of Trustworthy American History If the Trump Administration gets their way, truthful American History curricula will be replaced with biased Patriotic Education in public schools. The Trump Administration is concerned that public schools are not producing students that are adequately “patriotic,” so their plan is to allow only the uplifting and ennobling parts of our history to be taught in K-12 public schools. Not only would the

Conservative media is portraying public schools as indoctrination camps. They pejoratively call them “government schools” while continuing their attack on civics teachers and librarians. They make so many factually incorrect statements that no one has enough time to research and contradict them all. Suffice it to say, where the right-wing critics see indoctrination camps, I see public education’s critical role in our society, which involves teaching students to think for them