The Department of Defense Education Activity, which operates approximately 160 schools across 11 countries serving roughly 70,000 students from military families, is launching a new course focused on Western civilization and Christianity this fall. The course, titled “Western Civilization to 1500,” will use a textbook published by Encounter Books in partnership with Hillsdale College, a conservative Christian institution in Michigan. High school students can take the course to fulfill world history graduation requirements through the department’s virtual school program.
The initiative reflects broader efforts by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to reshape education within the Defense Department’s school system toward what he characterizes as patriotic values and classical learning approaches. The department has begun recruiting teachers trained in classical education methods and has brought in academic leadership with backgrounds in classical charter schools and Republican-led education initiatives. Hegseth has previously advocated for classical Christian education in his writings and public statements, including in his 2022 book “Battle for the American Mind.”
Historians and education specialists who reviewed portions of the textbook told the Associated Press that it presents historical events in ways they characterized as misleading, depicting Western civilization and Christianity as inseparable and portraying Islam as inherently threatening to both. The textbook’s treatment of religious conflict, including its coverage of the Crusades and medieval Islamic-Christian relations, has drawn criticism from academics who argue it lacks important historical context and contemporary nuance. Some scholars noted that the framing reflects what they describe as a right-wing political narrative about cultural displacement.
Classical education broadly emphasizes the liberal arts and critical thinking through study of foundational texts. While some practitioners have worked to incorporate diverse scholarly traditions, critics contend the movement concentrates heavily on Greek, Roman, and Western European sources while minimizing achievements from Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. Education experts have raised questions about whether the emphasis on Western civilization serves as a vehicle for promoting specifically Christian educational content within a federal school system.
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