Trump’s presidency has just begun and to say these past few weeks have been chaotic is an understatement. A flurry of executive orders have exited the White House, from banning D.E.I. to imposing tariffs, it seems we can’t catch a break.
Perhaps the most consequential executive order for us at John Dewey and especially for schools across the country is his pledge to end the Department of Education (DOE).
The DOE is a government agency which manages a $268 billion budget and $1.6 trillion in student loans. Compared to other agencies, the DOE is relatively small, but this small department has played an outsized political role.
Over the years, the DOE has faced constant criticism. Individuals from both parties believe that the department is outdated and wasteful, spending billions of tax dollars to achieve subpar results. Others critique D.E.I. (diversity, equity and inclusivity) programs by the DOE and even claim that the department is participating in indoctrination.
If President Trump follows through with ending the DOE, education will be largely left to the states and local forms of government. For John Dewey and other schools in large cities/rich states with billions of dollars in budget, a drop in funding from the DOE will be felt, but we can still function properly.
“Ninety percent of our funding comes from the city, only about ten percent comes from the DOE,” Mrs. Lang, a government teacher, said. “There might be a few less programs or activities around the school, but we can still operate.”
Beyond simple funding and D.E.I. programs, the DOE centralizes education, setting guidelines and standards such as Common Core. Oversight from the DOE also ensures that lower performing schools get the extra funding they need.
Without the centralized system, schools in wealthier cities/states might find alternative funding or resources more easily, while schools located in less wealthy areas would struggle immensely without the DOE.
Students in schools most dependent on the DOE will see their education become more shattered, they might lack essential knowledge and programs such as anti-bullying education or mental health resources will be gone altogether.
American students are already struggling in school with reading and math. Ending the DOE is counterintuitive. Teachers from across the country say kids are years behind the recommended academic standard for their age.
Eliminating the DOE will greatly exacerbate this problem nationwide and increase disparities in education. This will affect all students, but especially the most vulnerable and underprivileged. (i.e. special needs, low-income, disabled, etc.). Essentially, all of those who benefit from diversity programs.
“As an after school tutor, I’m scared for the future of Gen Alpha,” senior Mickey Ye said. “They are severely lacking in comprehension and critical thinking and cannot perform basics such as using context clues or sounding out words.”
In the post-covid world, strong and proficient education and funding for high-need students is what we need most. In a world where teachers are underpaid, students are underperforming and tuition is sky-high, we need the centrality of the DOE.
President Trump is right in saying that the DOE needs to be reformed. He is correct in pointing out issues such as unnecessary bureaucracy and inflexibility. However, he is misguided in proposing to dismantle the entire system which millions of students depend on just because there are issues. We should not throw the baby out with the bathwater.
We must properly educate our children while smoothly transitioning each change/reform so that each new generation is ready to deal with modern-life and modern issues. Preparing our children today is what ensures our future tomorrow.
