Educational inequality is a major issue, and change is necessary. But a takeover is not the answer. Too often, it is an instrument of conservative politicians wielded against local communities who find their voices shut out.
Their agenda breaks with decades of Democratic thinking about education. The Harris-Walz education agenda is often inseparable from the campaign’s economic priorities. Both are part of what the candidates describe as a pro-family platform.
A report from the Zinn Education Project released early last year found that, nationwide, the Reconstruction era is seldom taught accurately in K-12 schools, and often not enough class time is spent discussing this period. As a result, the Reconstruction era is poorly understood.
Sarah Jaffe; Illustrator: Adrià Fruitós
Rethinking Schools
There are now 567,000 fewer educators in public schools than at the beginning of the pandemic. “What we must have is a high-quality, experienced, certified, and stable public education workforce.”
“We have a system that places far too high a burden on families paying for the high price of care, and for providers to operate on very, very thin margins, so they can keep their doors open and meet the needs of families.”
The president-elect has said that he believes in student debt forgiveness. Why then is he refusing to rely on straightforward executive action to achieve his stated aims?
"Unlike Betsy DeVos, Secretary-designate Cardona will ensure that the federal government's role in education is to ensure access and opportunity for every student."
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