The American Federation of Teachers ( AFT), Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, accuses President Donald Trump’s request to abolish the U.S. Department of Education in an opinion piece released on Fox News. Weingarten warns that 90 % of public school students, especially those from low-income families and those with disabilities, will be negatively impacted by the plan to cut the agency’s staff by almost half and change its responsibilities to other companies.
The proposed funding breaks, according to Weingarten, will disproportionately impact individuals in states like Mississippi, Kentucky, and South Dakota, which rely heavily on national resources. According to experts quoted by Fox News, the U.S. Department of Education currently allocates roughly$ 1 for every$ 7 spent on public schools. Without these crucial funds, public schools would struggle to provide the necessary services.
Effect on individuals who are frightened
If these budget cuts were made, 7.5 million students with disabilities and millions of children from low-income individuals may experience considerable hardship, according to Weingarten. According to Fox News, federal money is necessary to provide these students with professional services like counseling and financial help for college, as reported by Fox News. These vital programs would be in jeopardized if the office were to be dismantled.
The proposal also raises questions about the increased funding for personal school vouchers, which critics claim would mostly benefit rich families with children who now attend private schools. According to Fox News, 70 % of the public’s money for college tickets are already distributed to wealthy individuals. This could further exacerbate the education gap between wealthy and poor students, further lowering the attainment of academic equity.
A risky reversal of learning
Weingarten contends that the proposal undermines the federal government’s commitment to ensuring equal education opportunities for all students. It is not just improper but bad. She warns that the elimination of the Education Department could push people to give higher state and local income to make up for the decline in federal money, bringing in more tax breaks for the wealthiest Americans while causing the most suffering.
Weingarten points out that eliminating the Department of Education’s role in equalizing chance would inevitably hurt students across the country. However, it is flawed. She concludes that the decision runs the risk of thwarting advancement in public education, particularly for the most underprivileged.
