The Ostrich Effect
Student journalists at a Washington, D.C. high school argue that educational institutions are increasingly fostering a culture of silence among students and staff. They observe that fear of professional repercussions is discouraging open dialogue and free expression within the school environment.
Why it matters
The decline of free expression in schools may hinder the development of critical thinking and civic engagement in the next generation.
Too many institutions are teaching young people to stay quiet.
Illustration by Alisa Gao / The Atlantic July 23, 2026, 7 AM ET Share Save If you’re looking for a reason to despair over the state of American education, there are many places you could start. You could, for example, worry about the all-consuming phones—or the gambling and TikTok addictions that come with them. You could worry about the free fall in literacy , the decline in math fluency, the rise of AI, the insanity of college-obsessed parents, the sharp increase in truancy, the teen mental-health crisis, and on and on.
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