In a move that was as predictable as an afternoon tweet, President Trump is once again stirring the pot with an executive order aimed at dismantling the Department of Education. This move has lit up the political landscape with opinions as divided as a pie at a family gathering. The initiative is being hailed as a promise kept to the American voter, pushing forward the process of shrinking the federal role in education. Of course, it’s not going down without a fuss. The executive order will be going after all the low-hanging fruit that doesn’t require Congress’s blessing. It’s a move that’s sure to have education bureaucrats across the nation biting their nails.
The critics, as expected, are not holding back. Their arguments at rallies echo sentiments that Trump’s disdain for bureaucracy is tantamount to disrespect for hardworking Americans. Concerns abound about the impact this will have on minority students and the structure of public education. They warn of dismantling traditional education, leaving children without the resources they deserve. Yet, when it comes to measurable success, it’s a fair question whether students are getting their money’s worth. Since the birth of the Department of Education, a whopping $3 trillion has been plowed into the system, with test scores refusing to budge upwards.
Instead of reaping the academic rewards intended, spending seems to have ballooned at every level, creating a job haven rather than an educational one. The only thing expanding faster than the national debt might be the piles of paperwork choking state and local departments forced to comply with federal demands. This development leaves many wondering where all that money actually went. Certainly not towards student achievement, as scores haven’t shown significant progress. It seems the bureaucracy is getting a little too comfortable, and the seams are starting to show.
Historically speaking, the idea of scaling back the Department of Education isn’t anything new. Even the illustrious Ronald Reagan envisioned a future without such bureaucratic bloat. However, times have a funny way of changing things without actually changing them. Questions linger about how merit will be measured and rewarded on a state level, should such drastic cuts come to fruition. Accountability, it seems, is the new buzzword. Parents should be the critical watchdog in this educational experiment, with their voices louder than any union’s.
Ultimately, the full dismantling of the Department of Education will have its pains and gains. Legislation to effect this change is already dancing through the corridors of the House and Senate, although it remains unclear how quickly it will traverse the legislative maze. Some predict a multi-year project, punctuated by the inevitable political wrangling. Nonetheless, with strategic negotiations, there might be a few Democrats willing to jump ship and see how different states handle their newfound responsibility. As always, only time will tell if this plan will set education free or leave it floundering in the bureaucratic quagmire it aims to escape.
