Eliminate the Department of Education?
Opinion by Charles Cooke
A few weeks ago, President Trump signed an executive order to dismantle the Department of Education, which proposes taking away many people's jobs and making public school less accessible for all, all in the name of “government efficiency.” Trump’s executive order states the Education Secretary will “to the maximum extent appropriate and permitted by law, take all necessary steps to facilitate the closure of the Department of Education and return authority over education to the States and local communities.” Trump said that his administration would close the department beyond its “core necessities,” keeping only Title 1 funding for low income schools, Pell Grants, and money for programs for children with disabilities. Although as this article is being written the Department of Education still exists, President Trump claims to want to eventually dismantle it fully through legislation. However, he cannot do this without the approval of the courts. Educators, professors, school districts, unions, civil rights organizations, and advocacy groups are all fighting to preserve the Department of Education. Some specific groups are the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), the American Federation of Teachers, and Democracy Forward. The ACLU has already called on Congress to act immediately to restore the federal government's role in enforcing civil rights, and the National Immigration Law Center is part of a campaign to protect K-12 public education access for all children.
Now, you can align to whatever political party you please – Republican, Democrat or independent – but realize that a decision like this affects everyone. As of the 2022-2023 academic year, 85% of full time, first-year undergraduate students were awarded some type of federal financial aid. 30%-40% of undergraduate students take out federal student loans each year and approximately 56% of first time, full time undergraduate college students nationwide receive federal grants. Without the federal funding that the Department of Education provides, many will not be able to afford higher education. Young minds that are one day meant to lead this country are in danger of having their future squashed because they couldn’t get the loan they needed for college and therefore can’t afford to go. Is that how it should be in this country, that only the wealthy get to be educated and have the lives we all deserve to live? A better educated populus means a more peaceful and progressive society. In addition, countries that have higher literacy rates tend to be better off economically, as more business development and employment opportunities are opened. If everyone received the same opportunities for education, there would be less gaps between social classes as everyone would have an equal chance at better paying jobs, not solely those who can already afford college. More colleges and universities are becoming privatized and college keeps costing more and more each year; this will only worsen the problem.
There is no clear rationale for the dismantling of the Department of Education. There are better ways to cut costs and make a department more efficient. Evaluate what is and isn’t needed, what could be better, and how to improve upon what is already there. If something isn’t perfect, you shouldn’t go in and scrap it all together and leave nothing. Improvements can definitely be made to such a large department, but overall it has been a positive force in our country. Federal educational policy enforces civil rights laws in schools, giving people of all colors, genders, sexualities, and different backgrounds and upbringings an equal opportunity to succeed. The DoE supported schools and helped them recover during the COVID pandemic with $280 billion to assist K–12 schools and institutions of higher education in meeting their needs and the needs of their students. Its financial federal aid programs such as student loans and Pell Grants make college more affordable for lower and middle income families. It also promotes educational excellence through fostering student achievement, preparing students for global competitiveness, and ensuring equal access to education through funding, research, policy development, and program administration to make sure you get the best education possible. Students and their families could lose protection against civil rights violations, students and colleges could be more vulnerable to ideological crusades, mental health and enrichment programs could be cut, and people could lose access to enhanced public school choices.
This is not a matter of politics or what party you like more, this is a matter of people's lives, their livelihood, their future. Talk to your parents about it, go to rallies, post about it, talk to your peers, call and write to your state representatives and legislators. Let them know that you strongly oppose H.R. 899 and the executive order to dismantle the Department of Education. It’s important to do anything and everything you can to ensure that education stays accessible to all.
OpEd from National Education Association on the proposal: https://www.nea.org/nea-today/all-news-articles/nea-files-suit-defend-public-schools-trumps-reckless-cuts
