Schools are supposed to educate students by teaching them important facts and skills.

However, schools are sometimes accused of indoctrinating students: e.g., coercing them into believing religious views, failing to present widely-accepted scientific facts, or promoting controversial moral or political views.^[1]

But what is indoctrination anyway? Is it always bad? If so, why? Might some indoctrination be necessary, unavoidable, or even good?

This essay overviews notable answers to these questions.