DoD rolls out Western civilization and Christianity course for military schools

The Department of Defense Education Activity, which runs about 160 schools for military families in 11 countries, will introduce a Western civilization course that foregrounds Christianity this fall. The curriculum relies on a textbook published by Encounter Books and includes lesson plans created with Hillsdale College, a conservative Christian institution. Scholars who reviewed excerpts argue the text merges Western civilization with Christianity and depicts Islam as a threat.

The initiative aligns with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's agenda to shift the schools toward classical learning and patriotic values, including hiring teachers with classical education backgrounds and appointing new academic leaders tied to similar movements. Critics warn the approach may present a one-sided view of history, while supporters see it as a corrective to perceived liberal biases in education.