Trump Administration targets public education as surely as it does Iran

“Education” may not appear newsworthy these days as we must first deal with Trump’s WAR, inflation, ICE, a failed Congress and that dang DOMESDAY CLOCK.

One year ago, President Trump smiled while seated in the White House East Room (now demolished for his bullet-proof, 1,000-guest ballroom).

For show, a dozen elementary students stood nearby as he signed an executive order to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education.

While an act of Congress is required to close the department, Trump has fired nearly half of its staff with their programs ended or moved into another office.

As federal education funds disappear, state budgets face a legal dilemma as their school districts, by law, must provide services for all K-12 children, regardless of economic or social status — or disability.

As defined by Trump and Department Secretary McMahon, federal dollars for local schools are “illegal and immoral,” a woke system that must be “merit-based and non-discrimatory.” Please, if you understand their logic, let me know.

Chicago Mayor Johnston explains it this way: “Secretary of Education Linda McMahon wants to turn our public education system into a multi-trillion-dollar for-profit industry using private school vouchers … with tax supported scholarships.”

In other words, someone can establish a private “charter school” outside of state control with an academic or religious curriculum that chooses their students from among those holding state vouchers, federal tax credits, or education savings accounts.

With our current DoEd seemingly headed for the trash bin, it’s surprising the Pew Research Center discovered its original budget of $79 billion has now risen, with no explanation, to $91 billion! (Allowing for private school vouchers?)

With a federal funding deadline of July 1, states are anxiously awaiting their share to complete fall academic year budgets.

Rumors suggest certain states may be favored with “prizes” awarded to (Red?) governors who support required McMahon policies.

This Trump-McMahon “Merit-Based Goal” will favor white students born and raised in America — some 45% of a current U.S. student population over 50 million.

Now, let’s stop right there and take a different look at America’s system of public education. From world renowned universities to pre-kindergarten, education is big business in the USA, a service industry employing more than 23 million workers, contributing an annual investment of over $850 billion for facilities, staff salaries, and supplies.

Universities and colleges, with an influx of international students, contribute $44 billion to the U.S. economy and provide 15% of our total U.S. trade surplus — comparable to the combined exports of soybeans, coal, and natural gas.

It should be no surprise that America’s public education system was founded on the same principles expressed in its 1776 Constitution and Bill of Rights.

North Carolina, in fact, was bold enough to write into its constitution “The General Assembly shall provide by taxation and otherwise … free public schools … for all students.”

Oversight would be provided by a state office and local elected School Boards.

In Virginia, Thomas Jefferson clearly stated “An educated citizenry is a vital requisite for our survival as a free people.”

Into the 20th century, educators realized that states alone could not satisfy the needs of a rapidly expanding population and industrial economy.

Worker unions, women’s suffrage, civil rights, and child labor laws greatly expanded the role of k-12 public schools. Churches, benevolent societies, and philanthropies provided some relief, and yet “separate but equal” Negro state schools would not be declared unconstitutional until 1954.

(I believe I just heard Thomas Jefferson turn over in his grave.)

It then took two decades before Congress established a Department of Education with special funding to promote equality and inclusion among all students — regardless of background or circumstance — an education that offers youth and adults opportunities to improve their quality of life for America’s future.

If we get away from political shenanigans, we also find the heart and soul of our current, amazing education system where classroom TEACHERS and school staff each day bear the burdens of implementing Thomas Jefferson’s America.