Over the past weekend in Philadelphia, President Donald Trump made a strong statement, promising to close down the Department of Education entirely if he is re-elected.
This proposal boldly aims to dismantle the “indoctrination” of students through Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs, Critical Race Theory (CRT), and the integration of “woke sexual content” in school curricula.
During the rally, President Trump articulated his vision for significantly reforming the American education system, emphasizing a reversion to state control and a departure from federal oversight.
“I will shut down the federal Department of Education, and we will move everything back to the states where it belongs and where they can individualize education and do it with the love for their children,” Trump said.
On multiple occasions, Trump has expressed criticism toward the Department of Education. He has consistently promoted the concept of school choice and emphasized the importance of local control in education. Based on his belief, he thinks that parents and local communities are the most capable of understanding and dealing with the needs of their students.
In a video campaign released by Trump last year, he stated, “American society pours more than a trillion dollars a year into public education systems. But instead of being at the top of the list, we are literally at the bottom. Rather than indoctrinating young people with inappropriate racial, sexual, and political material, which is what we’re doing now, our schools must be totally refocused to prepare our children to succeed in the world of work and in life, and the world of keeping our country strong so they can grow up to be happy, prosperous, and independent citizens.”
Here is a summary of the ten orinciples proposed for enhancing schools and paving the way for rewarding careers, as outlined in President Trump’s speech:
- Parental control: Give parents the right to decide about their children’s education.
- Empowerment of Local Schools: Give parents and local school boards the authority to choose and support excellent principals and teachers and dismiss those not performing well.
- Focus on Essential Learning: Focus on teaching essential knowledge and skills like reading, writing, math, and science in classrooms rather than political indoctrination.
- Patriotism in Education: Teach students to love their country.
- Prayer in Schools: Allow for the reintroduction of prayer in schools, make it okay to say prayers, and ensure coaches, teachers, school employees, and students are not punished for it.
- Safe and Secure Environment: Maintain a drug-free environment and take prompt actions, including immediate expulsion, for students found to be causing harm to others.
- School Choice: Give parents the right to choose different schools for their children, promoting school choice.
- Project-Based Learning: Ensure students can access project-based learning experiences to prepare them for practical, real-world work.
- Internships and Work Experiences: Strive to provide all students with access to internships and work experiences that pave the way to their first job.
- Career Counseling: Ensure that all schools offer excellent job and career counseling to help students prepare for their future careers according to their talents.
