The U.S. Department of Education issued a “Dear Colleague” letter ahead of the National Day for the Victims of Communism, encouraging schools and universities to expand teaching about communism’s history and human toll, according to a Fox News opinion piece.
The article points to Florida, where November 7 is recognized as Victims of Communism Day and high school students in U.S. government courses are required to study communist regimes and their victims.
The writer argues that American schools have reduced instruction comparing economic and political systems, leaving students with an incomplete understanding of socialism and communism. The article cites a 2025 Cato Institute and YouGov survey reporting that 62 percent of Americans under 30 view socialism favorably and more than a third view communism favorably. The piece does not provide further survey details.
The author contends that students should learn both the theoretical claims made for centralized economies and the historical record of regimes that adopted them, including reported shortages, concentrated government power and religious persecution. The article also argues in favor of free markets and individual liberty; those claims are the writer’s opinion, not findings established by the Education Department letter.
The piece calls for teaching historical context rather than promoting political indoctrination. Its central argument is that students should be able to compare economic systems and understand the consequences attributed to them in practice.
