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This book examines how parent activism and White Christian nationalism are reshaping public schools and, in doing so, threatening democracy.
This book examines how parent activism and White Christian nationalism are reshaping public schools and, in doing so, threatening democracy. Drawing on in-depth case studies from California and New York, and examples of events occurring in states throughout the nation, it shows how local school boards have become key sites of political struggle, where debates over curriculum, LGBTQ+ rights, and parental authority reflect the broader, increasingly powerful influence of national polarization. The book traces the historical roots of these movements and shows how contemporary, organized networks of activists, political actors across all three branches of government, and religious groups are shaping education policy. By connecting local developments to national trends, it reveals how public education—long understood as a cornerstone of democratic life—is being transformed in ways that challenge shared governance and inclusive civic values. This book will appeal to scholars, educators, policymakers, parents, and anyone concerned about the future of public education and democracy in the United States.
"At a time when there is deep polarization in US society, this book offers an insightful analysis of how actions within communities are challenging the democratic notions of public schooling." — Amanda Datnow, University of California, San Diego
Lea Hubbard is Professor Emerita at the University of San Diego. She is the coauthor of Reform as Learning: School Reform, Organizational Culture, and Community Politics in San Diego and The Politics of Organizational Sensemaking: A Theory of Sensesplitting. Corrie Stone-Johnson is Professor in Educational Administration at the University at Buffalo. She is the author of Generational Identity, Educational Change, and School Leadership and serves as the coeditor of the Journal of Educational Change.