We often hear that elections are the mechanism for change. We look to courts, legislatures and protests in the street to gauge the direction of our society. But we are looking in the wrong places. The most profound, durable and progressive change doesn’t begin with a new law; it begins with new thoughts. And new thoughts are born in the classroom.
The battle for the future of our society is being fought not on the floor of Congress, but in the quiet moments when a student connects with an idea for the first time. To believe in progress is to believe in the power of education. It’s the only force powerful enough to erode prejudice, ignite innovation and build the consensus required for a more just world.
While it is important to have proper representation in government, how do we expect the upcoming generations to make those decisions without the critical thinking taught in schools? If you ask many of our current GOP leaders, they will tell you that education shouldn’t be funded by tax dollars. They insist the problem with education isn’t that teachers are being forced to do with less, but rather that God and religion have been taken out of the classroom. They also tell you the remedy for that is private institutions that focus on religion rather than science, math, art and history. Conveniently, I would imagine the companies pushing that agenda might also be donating to said elected officials’ campaigns.
Families have the right to choose private schooling or homeschooling, but their choices shouldn’t punish the public schools that our state constitution requires be equitably funded. Expensive private schools are not a solution to the problem of equal and equitable education regardless of income. Rather, the best thing we can do for education is to explore changes to the current way of learning without making education less accessible and equitable.
Education fosters the critical thinking necessary to challenge the status quo. A progressive society is not one that simply accepts things as they are. It’s one that constantly asks, “How can we do better?” This is a skill that must be taught. In a functioning educational environment, students are not just passive recipients of facts. They are taught to question sources, to construct arguments, to defend their ideas and, crucially, to change their minds when presented with better evidence. This process creates citizens who cannot be manipulated by soundbites or misinformation. Educated voters hold power accountable, and educated workers will invent the solutions to climate change and inequality.
This is why the fight for teachers, librarians and well-funded schools is the most critical fight of our time. It is slower and less dramatic than a campaign rally, but its effects are more permanent. A law can be overturned with a new majority. A court ruling can be reversed with a new appointment. But a mind, once opened, cannot be easily closed.
Chance Marshall is a project management expert and the president of the Bonneville County Young Democrats.