Fascism and Schools

Fascism is a term that referred to a right-wing movement that ruled Italy from 1922 to 1943 under the leadership of Benito Mussolini. Fundamental fascism joined action and thought to create an imminent doctrine that arose from certain historical forces that were informed to allow men to become acquainted with reality and its laws. Under the declarations of Benito Mussolini regarding fascism in 1939, schools were considered the cornerstone of the solidarity that bound all social forces together to shape the human and political conscience of the latest generations in order to provide the economic, political, and moral unity that became the fascist state. Fascism was defined as any government that promotes nationality above individuals, uses violence and censorship to suppress political opposition, engages in violence and modern techniques of propaganda, engages in economic and social regimentation as well as corporatism, and implements a totalitarian system. Under Mussolini, all individual business was the sole duty of the state, since a fascist man is an individual as well as also a nation and a country. Schools under the fascist regime were designed to create a popular culture that was inspired by the eternal values to promote work that included concrete activities in the sciences, trades, arts, professions, and armed forces. Education in fascist states required attendance until students were 20 years old in order to achieve discipline, harmonious growth, fitness, moral behavior, and self-assurance, as well as discipline and duty. Expectations in fascist schools also included societal duties by redefining worker training for young girls and other technical and productive employee capabilities. State textbooks that were deemed suitable were furnished for all elementary schools, but only the well-to-do were permitted to pursue their advanced studies.

Examples of fascism in American schools include the school killings by two students in Columbine, [Page 381]Colorado, on Hitler's birthday; students who rejected the recitation of the “Pledge of Allegiance” as a fascist activity; and students who characterized the Junior ROTC as a suspect propaganda agenda. In response to these problems, public school administrators, teachers, parents, and students are beginning to face the existing problems with fascism and mobilize their communities in order to learn the dangers they face by fascist organizers in their school communities. Fascism in the educational system is a problem that must be strongly addressed by school administrators, teachers, and students to protect them from being recruited: by taking appropriate steps to involve community stakeholders through education and mobilization to take a stand against the Hitlerites, Nazis, neo-Nazis, skinheads, and other radicals who pose a continuing danger to communities around the United States.