How Dismantling Public Education Endangers Democracy

A Conversation with Derek W. Black

May 21, 2025 - 6:30 p.m.

Public education in America faces unprecedented threats, putting our democracy itself at risk. Join Advocates for Public Education Policy (A4PEP) on May 21, 2025, 6:30 p.m., for an essential webinar featuring Derek W. Black, one of the nation's leading scholars on education law and policy.

Professor Black, the Ernest F. Hollings Chair in Constitutional Law at the University of South Carolina, will discuss how public education historically strengthens democratic values and how current policies—such as legislative restrictions on teacher autonomy, funding inequities, and censorship—are undermining these vital institutions. Drawing from his influential books, Schoolhouse Burning and Dangerous Learning, he will illuminate how past literacy suppression continues to shape racial and educational inequities today.

Attendees will leave empowered with practical strategies to effectively advocate against privatization, censorship, and other threats to public education. Don't miss this critical conversation on safeguarding democracy and equitable education for all.

In this webinar you will learn:

How current education policies threaten the democratic purpose of public education

The historical suppression of literacy and its ongoing impact on racial and educational equity.

Practical strategies communities can implement to combat educational censorship and privatization.

How to advocate effectively for inclusive and equitable educational policies at the local and national levels.

DEREK W. BLACK

Derek W. Black is the Ernest F. Hollings Chair in Constitutional Law at the University of South Carolina and a widely respected authority on education law and public policy. He is the author of the influential books Schoolhouse Burning: Public Education and the Assault on American Democracy and Dangerous Learning: The South’s Long War on Black Literacy, which examine the historical and contemporary threats to equitable education. Professor Black is committed to advocating for robust public education as a cornerstone of democracy and social justice.

The threats facing public education today demand urgent action. This webinar is more than an educational opportunity—it's a call to defend democracy, equity, and justice.

Join a growing community of educators, advocates, and citizens dedicated to safeguarding democratic values and equitable education.