Katy Faust, a pro-child activist, has edited Pro-Child Politics: Why Every Cultural, Economic, and National Issue is a Matter of Justice for Children, a compelling collection of essays that highlight how education policy can unite diverse political perspectives.
For decades, child-focused politics was largely the domain of the social conservative wing of the Republican Party. However, this group often felt overshadowed within the broader coalition that included defense hawks and free-market libertarians. Social conservatives championed issues like ending abortion and restoring traditional morality, yet these priorities were often sidelined by Republican politicians once in office.
The emergence of Trump and the MAGA movement shifted this dynamic, placing social conservatism at the forefront of conservative politics. Rejecting outdated fusionism, MAGA conservatism has emphasized policies aimed at reinvigorating working and middle-class Americans and recognizing the societal damage caused by abandoning traditional morality. Central to this vision is a focus on children’s welfare, which has become a unifying principle across a wide range of issues.
Faust’s book meets this cultural moment, offering a comprehensive policy framework centered on children. Through a series of essays by various writers and scholars, the book provides insightful diagnoses and actionable solutions to pressing issues affecting American children. Each essay follows a structured approach: it begins with a real-life story, identifies falsehoods perpetuated by mainstream narratives, debunks these lies, and proposes pro-child policies that address the issue at hand.
This format ensures accessibility, simplifying complex topics for readers. The book’s style recalls the dialectical method of Thomas Aquinas, though Faust’s work is far more engaging and reader-friendly.
Standout essays include Justin Danhof’s discussion of ESG and DEI, Chris Barnard’s exploration of environmental issues, and Lora Ries’s take on border security and immigration. These essays demonstrate how seemingly unrelated topics profoundly impact families and children, revealing modern society’s deep misunderstandings of human nature.
Other chapters directly address issues like family, gender ideology, and toxic feminism. Faust’s essay on family critiques Big Fertility and the commodification of children, echoing themes from her earlier book Them Before Us. Abby Johnson’s account of abortion exposes ongoing challenges in protecting the unborn, even after Dobbs. Contributions from Peachy Keenan, Billboard Chris, and John Schweppe tackle feminism, gender ideology, and pornography, shedding light on their detrimental effects on younger generations.
One critique of Pro-Child Politics is its limited coverage of education. While Tiffany Justice’s essay on parental rights in education is compelling, a deeper examination of the broader American educational system—its shortcomings and the need for reform—would have been valuable. Topics like school choice and higher education reform could have been explored further, given their significant impact on children and families.
Despite this, Faust has created an essential resource for understanding and advocating for child-centered policies. Pro-Child Politics serves as a call to action for those looking to contribute to the welfare of future generations and a testament to the growing influence of social conservatism in shaping America’s future.
