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Education Critical Consciousness and the Practice of Academic Freedom
Education has long been a site of liberation and free exchange of ideas, of mind-colonizing indoctrination, and everything in between. Its contributing role in the shaping of young minds has made it the premier site of what is now called the “culture wars.” Roughly speaking, there is a Eurocentric heteropatriarchal push, and a multicultural pull:
Ban the books. Expand the canon.
Censor texts. Be inclusive.
Return to rote learning. Encourage critical thinking.
It goes on, seemingly ad infinitum.
The ARPC’s position is clear, though: “In a democracy, academic freedom and truth in education are basic human rights.”
We support liberatory education, defined by postsecondary educational theorist bell hooks as the "practice of [intellectual] freedom.” Thus we align with the university presidents whose April 22, 2025 open letter reminded the nation,
Our colleges and universities share a commitment to serve as centers of open inquiry where, in their pursuit of truth, faculty, students, and staff are free to exchange ideas and opinions across a full range of viewpoints without fear of retribution, censorship, or deportation.
The ARPC is thrilled to announce the renewal of our partnership with AU's School of Education. The School of Education has long advanced antiracist ideals through its commitment to analyzing self, systems, mindsets, ideologies, practices, and policies to dismantle antiracism (and other -isms). They promote a community that builds fair, just, and equitable systems essential for educational and social transformation in the 21st century.
Recent initiatives of theirs include the annual Summer Institute for Education, Equity, and Justice, a recent report on the Creating an Antiracist Teacher Workforce: Policy and Practice Implications project, and Big Ideas in Education that regularly moderate discussions around equity and antiracism. We look forward to continuing our connection with the School of Education and to collaborating with their researchers and policy analysts in our upcoming Truth in K–12 Education work.
