Attacks on Teachers:
A Preparation for War

Sep 15, 2025

First, the administration threatened to cut off billions of dollars to universities if they didn’t crack down harder on those who protested the massacre in Gaza. Harvard seemed to resist, but ultimately, almost all of these schools have cooperated.

Some educators are now under attack for what they say in class. A professor at Texas A&M was fired earlier this week for saying that there are more than two genders.

Others have been fired for what they’ve said outside of class. A Texas State University professor said in an online socialist meeting: “Without organization, how can anyone expect to overthrow the most bloodthirsty, profit-driven, mad organization in the history of the world—that of the United States?” His words were recorded by a right-wing activist, who posted them on social media. The Texas State president called this “conduct that advocates for violence” and fired the professor on September 10.

Officials in at least eight states have now said they would investigate K-12 teachers for “inappropriate” comments about the killing of Charlie Kirk, especially on social media. Teachers have been fired or suspended in at least twelve states so far.

Right-wing activists have also set up websites to expose “radical activists calling for violence,” making lists of names. The leader of the right-wing Proud Boys posted, “Make Liberals Homeless Again! Take their jobs!” Trump ally Laura Loomer bragged about having outed “dozens” of people for their social media posts and said, “I hope all of them lose their jobs.”

This is not the first time educators have faced pressure to toe a political line, nor the first time an attack on educators has spread to other layers of the population. During the anti-communist campaign from the 1940s into the early 1960s, hundreds of teachers were fired—along with many other workers. This anti-communist “Red Scare” was part of the campaign to pull the U.S. population into war, first World War II, then war in Korea, then Vietnam, and more—wars fought to ensure U.S. corporations’ domination of the world.

The current attacks on teachers are also aimed at silencing dissent, and preparing the population for the new wars this capitalist system has in store for us.