Stay in School, Conservatives

Conservatives cannot reclaim our institutions of education if they abandon them.

Education is high on the priority list for families. Parents begin thinking about their children's schooling long before they are born. It is a fundamental part of life and can shift the course of the future in numerous ways. Who teaches our children? What are they taught? What kind of opportunities will they have? In what kind of environment will learning take place? These are all valid questions. 

Far too many college campuses function as leftist indoctrination machines. Because of that, there is a tendency for conservatives to not only distrust higher education, but discourage both it and K-12 public education. This is hardly surprising. Universities, which should prize intellectual diversity, are notorious for pushing one ideology over another and punishing those who walk another path. Professors are bold enough to brag about pushing leftist agendas in their classrooms. And why shouldn't they feel protected? They are safely in the majority. Administrators who hold similar worldviews are only eager to see their shared perspectives spreading. The same worries apply to the K-12 sector. Similar indoctrination can and does occur. K-12 teachers hold degrees from colleges that value political and cultural progressivism.  

How do conservatives, traditionalists, or even those who just want their children and young adults to think critically approach the education question? 

Concerning the K-12 years, responsibility rests on the parents and them alone. Each couple must decide what is best for their child according to their needs. Other factors include family finances, time, and schooling options available in their community. It does no good to shame any parent for making the decision that is best for their child and family. Not everyone has the interest or means to send their child to private and/or religious school. The same goes for homeschooling. Not everyone has the financial resources to stay home with their children and teach them. And others appreciate the additional resources that public schools offer. Each form of education has its pros and cons. It is dishonest to claim otherwise. There is no perfect system. Every parent must stay actively involved in all aspects of their child's education, whatever that may be. There is simply no other way to go about it. Conservatives who value school choice should recognize that there is no one-size-fits-all system that applies to every child in America. 

When it comes to higher education, the final decision often falls to the young adult with a healthy amount of input from their parents. It is at this point where conservatives must reconsider the often reflexive rejection of a university education. 

A cursory glance at the last few months will tell you conservatives are largely not welcome at elite education institutions in the United States. Even if you were ignorant of the issue beforehand, the pro-Palestinian encampments and protests make it clear what ideologies are most welcome. These bastions of intellectual rigor are severely imbalanced among faculty and students alike. Of course, this is nothing new. But social media contagion and a culture that continues to lurch leftward have highlighted it in ways not quite seen before. 

In recent years, the trust in institutions of higher learning has taken a sharp dive. A Gallup poll from June 2023 highlights the trend. In 2015, 28% of those surveyed held a "great deal" of confidence in higher education in contrast to 33% holding some and 9% holding very little. As of 2023, only 17% were a great deal confident. Those who held some confidence had jumped to 40% while 22% held very little. When comparing political affiliations, a positive view of higher education fell by 37% among Republicans and only 9% among Democrats between 2015 and 2023. Clearly, those on the right side of the political aisle feel they are both targeted and unwanted for not clinging to leftism on college campuses. 

High school students feel pressure to pursue a traditional route after their K-12 schooling is complete. Part of that is due to the false notion that says success is only achieved with a degree under the arm. Family and friends can also influence teenagers to do what everyone else is doing. The fact is, however, that 4-year college is not for everyone. While many students do excel in traditional classroom settings, others don't. They shouldn't feel pressured to follow a certain route just because others do. Trade schools provide practical, hands-on education that can translate quickly to secure, often well-paying jobs. These schools produce skilled workers that are invaluable to society at large: electricians, plumbers, welders, HVAC techs, carpenters, aircraft mechanics, and many more. The world simply can't function without these specialties. 

The same goes for the other end of the spectrum. Society needs engineers, lawyers, doctors, teachers, biologists, computer scientists, nurses, psychologists, health and business professionals, accountants, and more. These fields require a college education. Some campuses are hostile to non-leftists. This should not deter conservatives from recommending higher education as a whole. 

The Right loves discussing the culture war. We are told we must fight against leftism and keep it from infecting all areas of society. We want to push back against "woke." These are worthwhile goals. However, there is no way to combat social corruption without actively involving ourselves in the culture. This means conservatives should reject the desire to isolate and instead focus on infiltrating. Desiring change in health, business, education, law, science, and government sectors (to name a few) requires that conservatives establish careers in these fields even if they are rare among their colleagues. Existing within the minority doesn't mean abandoning these careers is the answer. And the only way to gain entrance into these careers is successfully completing the education that is required. 

Penetrating leftist strongholds is not a comfortable endeavor. But that shouldn't stop those who exist anywhere politically center or right of center from pursuing it. Beyond that, though, are legitimate concerns about individual economic and career health. 

A piece from the American Enterprise Institute Center on Opportunity and Social Mobility titled Conservatives Distrust Higher Ed—But Still Need Degrees makes a strong case:

Degree holders can expect to earn an average of more than $1 million more over their lifetimes than those with only a high school diploma. They also enjoy higher employment rates and are less likely to be laid off in a recession. 

College degrees are associated with several noneconomic benefits, from improved health outcomes to greater civic engagement, higher rates of marriage, and higher levels of job satisfaction. 

These factors contribute not just to personal advancement but also to more cohesive, economically vibrant, and resilient communities. Research has also consistently linked the presence of institutions of higher education with regional economic benefits, including economic growth and improvements in quality of life. In addition to teaching skills and spurring innovation, colleges and universities help generate “social capital”—that is, they contribute to the trust people have in others and the extent to which they enjoy social relationships that support their economic and noneconomic needs. In general, in terms of happiness and economic well-being—whether for individuals or for communities—the more social capital, the better.

Just as avoiding college can't change higher education or career fields, the same applies to rejecting K-12 public schooling. There is no way to impact public schools if conservatives as a whole reject them entirely. School board, teacher, curricula, and administration issues don't get better if we just look away. Millions of children attend public school. For many, it's the only option. 

We don't create a more intellectually diverse society by abandoning public schools. We don't create a more intellectually diverse society by abandoning higher education. 

Conservatives should rightly oppose indoctrination in classrooms from the kindergarten through grad school levels. But fighting to make change can only occur if we actively exist in these spaces. Employers and employees alike can only be held accountable if there are people present to notice the oppression and corruption. 

Education is a touchy subject. But the problems that exist aren't fixed by discussing them within online or real-life bubbles. Addressing issues, demanding, and working toward change requires involvement in K-12, university, and career settings that require a college degree. Anyone selling a large-scale conservative withdrawal simply does not care about the long-term consequences for both our children and our country. 

Kimberly Ross is a freelance opinion writer who has written political and cultural commentary since 2015. She has bylines at The Federalist, USA Today, The Bulwark, Arc Digital, and ACN Ireland, among others. She was a senior contributor at RedState from 2015-2019. She has been a contributor to Washington Examiner's Beltway Confidential Blog since 2018 and frequently appears in Washington Examiner magazine. She is co-host of The Right Thoughts Podcast. She holds a BA in History with graduate work in political science. She lives with her husband and two energetic sons in the Southern United States. Follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @SouthernKeeks.