Staff Reports
In a bold move that has both supporters cheering and critics frowning, former President Donald Trump is once again shaking up the education system. He is advocating for the dismantling of the Department of Education, a move that his former Education Secretary, Betsy DeVos, wholeheartedly supports. This plan is stirring the pot and getting folks talking, especially those who see the department as inefficacious and bloated.
Recently, on a conservative news channel, Angela Morfito, who once served as the press secretary for the Department of Education during Trump’s first term, voiced her thoughts on this plan. She framed the Democratic reaction to Trump’s propositions as hypocritical. Why, she asked, was there such a loud outcry now when many parents and students have faced significant educational setbacks during the pandemic? When it was reported that a shocking number of eighth graders were struggling to read, the silence from Democratic leaders was deafening. According to Morfito, it seems the priorities of the Democratic Party are misplaced.
Morfito dissected the current state of the Department of Education, arguing that it spends an astronomical $80 billion annually yet fails to directly improve student outcomes. With such enormous sums lost within a bureaucratic maze, Morfito claims that this money could be better spent directly in classrooms, where it could benefit the children who need it most. It’s like buying an expensive gym membership but never stepping foot inside the gym—what’s the point?
As the conversation shifted to Linda McMahon, nominated to be the new head of the Small Business Administration (not the Department of Education), Morfito expressed optimism. She expects McMahon’s vision to center around cutting wasteful spending and shifting power back to parents. This new direction would ideally create an environment where families have a say in their children’s education, transforming the currently stagnant system into one that actively serves students’ needs. Morfito believes that America can reclaim its status as a leader in education, but only if old habits and misplaced priorities are set aside.
The discussion touched on Trump’s earlier executive orders promoting school choice, and Morfito predicted that these policies would lead to a significant change in the educational landscape. By allowing parents the freedom to choose schools, government-run institutions would have to up their game or risk losing students. It’s a straightforward yet effective approach—imagine if stores had to fight for customers instead of just relying on foot traffic. School choice is seen as a game-changer that could inspire all students, regardless of where they attend school.
Yet, amidst all this talk of reform, the pressing reality remains that students are still falling behind. With a glaring number of fourth and eighth graders struggling to meet basic math standards, the urgency for improvement has never been higher. Morfito believes that the new administration’s decision to hold schools accountable will send a clear message that mediocrity is no longer an option. Kids deserve better than a system that allows them to fail year after year.
In the end, the stakes are high, with the future of American education hanging in the balance. The charge to reform could lead to greater freedom for families and a renewed focus on student success. With Trump’s school choice advocacy and a vision of cutting through bureaucratic fat, the winds of change may just be at the door—let’s hope they bring along some much-needed improvement for the kids.
