Scholasticide: The Deadly War on Learning
Resisting the Obliteration Tool: Academic Murder, Recollections, and Pedagogy's Influence Power
In an age of authoritarianism, education becomes the primary battleground, and Scholasticide—the systematic destruction of educational institutions and intellectual thought—thrives. This destructive force is a concerning reality in places like Gaza, where schools and universities are methodically destroyed, and in the United States, where critical ideas are erased from the curriculum and educators are threatened.
Thanks to a successful Subscribe to Open campaign, the Journal of Holy Land and Palestine Studies' 24th volume is entirely Open Access. In this issue, Henry A. Giroux, McMaster University Chair for Scholarship in the Public Interest, exposes the chilling truths of Scholasticide and its catastrophic effects on societies worldwide.
Scholasticide in Gaza
In Gaza, Scholasticide overshadows the daily lives of its people. Since October 2023, 80% of schools and all universities have been devastated, stemming from violent invasions by Israel. This war on learning aims to not only obliterate physical structures but also wipe out the intellectual and cultural foundations of Palestinian society, silencing the past and suppressing the ability to resist oppression.
Scholasticide in the United States
Historical amnesia, driven by political agendas, has also seeped into U.S. education. During the Trump administration, critical aspects of U.S. history were suppressed, as books were banned, and educational content regarding racial violence, colonialism, and social justice were erased from classroom curriculums. The erasure of these ideas from American education serves as a means of maintaining power and control, much like the destruction in Gaza.
Fighting Scholasticide: Critical Pedagogy and Reclaiming the Future
As educators, we hold the responsibility to cultivate a critical awareness rooted in empathy and attentiveness. This consciousness, forged by our connection to history, power structures, and the unheard, allows for revolutionary ideas to challenge and dismantle forms of oppression. Critical pedagogy, a philosophy integrating action and creativity, plays a crucial role in thwarting Scholasticide, pushing back against the resurgence of false histories, racism, religious extremism, and the ever-looming threat of fascism.
Taking a Stand Against Historical Amnesia
To confront and resist Scholasticide, we must actively counter attempts to manipulate history, reclaim education as a means of historical consciousness and moral witnessing, and create educational visions that empower us to dismantle the oppressive structures of our world. In the face of historical erasure, we can harvest the tools to understand and resist authoritarianism, fostering an ethical imagination that dares to imagine a better future.
Resources
- Scholasticide: Waging War on Education from Gaza to the West
- The Concept of Scholasticide
- The War on Gaza's Educational System
- The Trump Administration's Assault on Education
- In the United States, similar to the destruction in Gaza, critical ideas are erased from the curriculum during political regimes, such as the Trump administration, resulting in historical amnesia and suppression of knowledge.
- Parallels can be drawn between Scholasticide in Gaza and the suppression of educational content in the United States, as both aim to erase intellectual and cultural foundations, impeding the ability to resist oppressive structures.
