How a War on Knowledge Erodes Our Democracy and Our Adaptive Resiliency
We stand on a precipice in American public education, where forces fueled by greed, arrogance, and, quite frankly, a deplorable desire to suppress critical thinking, are waging a war against the very institutions intended to empower our youth. This conflict is not merely an administrative hiccup—it’s a calculated effort to keep citizens underinformed and undervalued, a strategy that stifles innovation and our collective capacity for Adaptive Resiliency. Through the lens of defunded schools, privatized learning, and the systematic dismantling of libraries, we see the seeds of an even larger problem: an assault on our ability to address urgent global threats like the Climate and Ecological (Green) emergency. After all, how can a population persist and thrive in the face of existential crises if it cannot decipher facts from propaganda or apply critical thinking to design sustainable solutions?
Below, we’ll explore how anti-intellectualism, strategic defunding, and societal neglect have all but ensured that American public education falters. Drawing on historical context and real-world experiences, we’ll also confront the broader implications—economic, social, and political—of this deliberate sabotage of our schools. Ultimately, the question we must ask ourselves is this: Will we stand idly by as this crisis undermines the bedrock of our democracy and our ability to adapt in a rapidly changing world?
The Crisis in American Public Education: A Deliberate Effort to Keep Citizens Uneducated
In recent years, the state of public education in America has become increasingly dire. What was once a beacon of hope for millions of students has now become a battleground, with powerful interests actively working to undermine and dismantle the very foundations of our educational system. This crisis is not accidental—it’s a calculated strategy to keep Americans uneducated and ill-equipped to participate fully in our democracy. For many communities, this covert war is particularly alarming because it also erodes our collective capacity for Adaptive Resiliency, especially as we confront growing Climate and Ecological (Green) threats that require informed civic participation.
The War on Public Education
One of the most insidious attacks on public education is the aggressive push to defund public schools 11. By starving schools of vital resources, opponents make it nearly impossible for educators to provide high-quality instruction, resulting in overcrowded classrooms, outdated learning materials, and underpaid teachers. As a natural consequence, we see a glaring achievement gap between affluent and low-income students, with those from disadvantaged backgrounds falling further behind 66. When schools close or suffer budget cuts, entire communities are left without critical social services, ranging from after-school tutoring to meal programs.
Simultaneously, there is a fervent push to privatize education through school choice initiatives and voucher programs 88. Although these proposals often parade themselves as models of innovation, they divert public funds away from traditional public schools. In practical terms, that means even fewer resources for the majority of students—especially those in economically challenged areas—while niche private institutions thrive on public dollars. The net effect is a fragmented system that fosters inequality, hampers upward mobility, and discourages comprehensive policy solutions that could address educational inequities on a larger scale.
The Rise of Anti-Intellectualism
This current assault on public education forms part of a broader phenomenon of anti-intellectualism in American society 99. There is an escalating mistrust of experts, academics, and intellectual pursuits, often reinforced by media and pop culture narratives where being a “nerd” is ridiculed. That dismissive attitude can create a toxic environment wherein critical thinking and deep analysis are devalued, paving the way for disinformation campaigns and oversimplified narratives about complex issues.
The repercussions are profound. Surveys reveal widening gaps in general knowledge among both students and adults 99. Alarming statistics illustrate this reality:
- 77% of American public school students cannot identify George Washington as the first President of the United States.
- Roughly 1 in 5 Americans believe the Sun revolves around Earth.
- About 50% of high school graduates feel unprepared for college-level reading.
When an entire society increasingly doubts the value of knowledge for knowledge’s sake, we lose our collective capacity to tackle multifaceted challenges—whether those challenges involve bridging educational disparities, debating economic policies, or coordinating a viable response to Climate and Ecological (Green) emergencies.
The Assault on Libraries
Hand in hand with the defunding of public schools, public libraries—often the last bastion of free access to information—are also under siege. Communities across the country face efforts to drastically cut library funding, limiting access to books, research materials, internet services, and educational programs 55. This is especially calamitous for low-income neighborhoods, where libraries frequently serve as a haven for after-school learning, vocational training, and technology access.
When educational budgets are slashed and libraries are shuttered, individuals who might have used these resources to educate themselves are left increasingly isolated. This assault further restricts the avenues through which marginalized populations can acquire crucial skills, from digital literacy to resume building, thereby perpetuating systemic inequalities.
The Impact on Special Populations
The crisis in public education is especially devastating for vulnerable groups. Students with disabilities, English language learners, and homeless youth face an uphill battle in even the best of times, and today’s defunded, overstretched schools often lack the specialized staff and resources these students need 66. When these services are compromised, the most disadvantaged segments of our society bear the brunt of the failures. Further aggravating the problem, many special education programs now operate with minimal staffing and dwindling budgets, leaving teachers exhausted and unable to effectively help students with unique learning needs. This vicious cycle of neglect can lead to decreased graduation rates, more incidents of absenteeism, and bleak future prospects for countless students who already face formidable life obstacles.
A Call to Action
It’s evident that the American public education system is on a downward spiral. If we fail to correct course, our democracy will suffer the consequences as an entire generation grows up without the critical thinking skills necessary to participate effectively in civic life. We can only achieve Adaptive Resiliency—our ability to adapt, survive, and thrive in an increasingly complex world—if we invest wholeheartedly in the education of our citizens. Here are key steps we must consider:
- Increased Funding for Public Schools: Allocate substantial resources to underfunded districts, ensuring every student has access to high-quality learning materials, technology, and well-trained educators.
- Expanded Support Services: Place stronger emphasis on special education, English language learners, and homeless youth, making certain that interventions and individualized programs are accessible to all.
- Protecting and Expanding Public Libraries: Recognize libraries as vital community hubs that offer more than just books—they host workshops, provide internet access, and become cultural centers, thereby fostering lifelong learning.
- Combating Anti-Intellectual Attitudes: Champion the value of expertise, scholarship, and rigorous debate in mainstream culture, media, and politics, reasserting that education is both a personal right and a communal good.
- Teacher Training and Retention: Implement robust professional development to empower educators and create pathways for them to progress in their careers, thus mitigating burnout and turnover.
We have to fight for comprehensive education that encourages innovation, nurtures creativity, and emboldens citizens to engage confidently with the issues affecting our communities, including urgent Climate and Ecological (Green) crises. Our children’s futures—and the future of our democracy—hang in the balance.
The Long-Term Consequences of This Crisis
As we grapple with this entrenched assault on public education, it’s crucial to understand the far-reaching impact that runs deep into the social, economic, political, and global domains of our country. Below are some of the most pressing concerns:
Economic Impacts
- Reduced Lifetime Earnings: Students coping with systemic under-education may see significantly lower lifetime earnings. Research suggests pandemic-related setbacks alone could cost each affected student between $49,000 and $61,000 in future earnings 44.
- Decreased Economic Productivity: By 2040, as current K-12 students enter the workforce, the country could face an annual GDP loss of $128 billion to $188 billion due to learning deficits 44. This compounds pre-existing gaps that further exacerbate income inequality.
- Widening Income Inequality: Inadequate education particularly harms low-income students and students of color, likely perpetuating cycles of poverty 44.
- Labor Market Disruptions: With insufficient graduates to fill specialized roles, companies could face shortages of qualified applicants for well-paying jobs, hindering industry growth 88.
Social Consequences
- Health Disparities: Lower educational attainment correlates with poorer health outcomes and shorter life expectancy, burdening healthcare systems and society at large 2,82, 8.
- Increased Social Stratification: When education fails to act as the great equalizer, divisions along socioeconomic, racial, and political lines harden 88.
- Elevated Social Problems: People with lower levels of education are at higher risk of depression, divorce, and substance abuse 88.
- Reduced Social Mobility: If public education no longer serves as a viable pathway out of poverty, intergenerational cycles of disadvantage become more entrenched 77.
Political and Civic Engagement
- Decreased Political Participation: Individuals with weaker educational backgrounds are statistically less likely to vote, volunteer, or engage in community advocacy 2,82, 8.
- Erosion of Civic Knowledge: A population that lacks a firm grasp of government processes and institutions will be more susceptible to manipulation, weakening democracy’s essential pillars.
- Shifting Political Landscape: Over time, regions with lower educational attainment may see altered electoral outcomes, potentially reinforcing policies that perpetuate under-education.
Global Competitiveness
- Lagging Behind International Peers: Once a global leader, the U.S. now ranks 12th among OECD nations in the proportion of 25-34-year-olds who hold degrees 88. Continued declines could expedite a fall in international standings.
- Reduced Innovation: A society that undervalues critical thinking and academic rigor produces fewer breakthroughs in science, technology, and the arts 55. The capacity to address Climate and Ecological (Green) threats also diminishes without an educated citizenry.
- Economic Relocation: Multinational corporations may choose to shift operations to countries with more robust educational infrastructure, further damaging the U.S. economy 88.
Building Toward a Future of Adaptive Resiliency
If we want to save humanity from the damage wrought by greed and ignorance, we must address this crisis immediately. The escalating war on public schools and libraries is not just an issue of budgets and policies; it’s a moral imperative. An uneducated populace is ill-equipped to engage in the nuanced dialogues necessary for responding to sweeping challenges—from Climate disasters to Ecological (Green) degradation, from national health crises to global economic uncertainties. Conversely, an educated community can wield knowledge as its most powerful defense, leveraging science, empathy, and collaboration to navigate crises and strengthen our society’s Adaptive Resiliency.
In the spirit of one fictional scholar’s cautionary words: “A society that neglects the seedbeds of knowledge is destined to reap a harvest of despair.” Indeed, letting our public education system collapse is akin to sowing the seeds of our own undoing.
We can still correct our course by championing an inclusive, well-resourced, and forward-thinking approach to public education. That requires electing officials who value knowledge, organizing communities to protect public libraries, and vigorously promoting a culture of intellectual curiosity. When a nation invests in the minds of its youth, it lays the foundation for genuine progress, ensuring that future generations are equipped with the critical thinking skills and ethical compass to safeguard both democracy and our planet.
Conclusion and Further Exploration
The destruction of public education in America isn’t just an unfortunate byproduct of policy missteps; it’s a carefully orchestrated campaign to keep citizens uneducated. We witness defunded schools, disparaged educators, and downgraded libraries that once acted as sanctuaries of accessible knowledge. These actions occur alongside a rising tide of anti-intellectualism, which devalues critical thinking at a time when Climate, Ecological (Green), and social injustices loom large. The stakes could not be higher: Our democracy, our societal well-being, and our global competitiveness depend on an informed, empowered citizenry capable of Adaptive Resiliency.
To gain deeper insights into how America systematically keeps its citizens uneducated—and why we must fight back—watch the video “How America Keeps Its Citizens Uneducated”. It delves into the historical roots of anti-intellectualism and lays bare the continued efforts to privatize and defund public education. When we understand the problem, we are one step closer to reversing it.
References
11 U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics (2024)
22 U.S. Department of Education Budget Summary (2024)
33 National Education Association on Project 2025
44 McKinsey & Company Report on COVID-19 and Education
55 Michigan Library Association Project 2025
66 Center on Reinventing Public Education (2024)
77 Education Week Report on Federal Funding Cuts (2024)
88 Scientific American Analysis of Public Education Plans
99 Wikipedia: Anti-Intellectualism
Additional Citations for Long-Term Consequences:
11 Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, Economic Brief (2023)
22 Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, Coronavirus Economic Impact (2020)
33 Allison Academy on Higher Education
55 Centre for Economic Policy Research on School Closures
66 Global Coalition to Protect Education from Attack
77 The 74 Million: America’s Education System in Crisis
88 Hechinger Report on Fewer People Going to College
99 Dissent Magazine: The Coming Public Education Crisis
Together, let us champion genuine learning, Adaptive Resiliency, and a sense of collective responsibility to ensure that every child—not just the privileged few—has access to the education they rightfully deserve.
This summary is based on this video: