š„Hired To Be Fired: Linda McMahon as the new Secretary of Education
Linda McMahon has officially been confirmed as the new Secretary of Education, and sheās made one thing clear: her goal is to shut down the Department of Education. What does this mean?
Linda McMahon has officially been confirmed as the new Secretary of Education, and sheās made one thing clear: her goal is to shut down the Department of Education.
In her speech, Our Departmentās Final Mission, she painted a picture of an education system pushing āradical anti-American ideology.ā But hereās the thingāthis simply isnāt true. The Department of Education isnāt a propaganda machine. It funds essential programs, including special education, Title I schools, and student aid. If it disappears, who fills the gap?
Her 3 Priorities:
1ļøā£ Parents as Primary Decision Makers ā Yes, parents should have a voice in their childās education. But education is complex, and we need professionalsāteachers, specialists, and expertsāto guide us. For many families, placing the full weight of a child's education on parents isnāt a relief, itās a burden.
2ļøā£ Refocusing on Core Subjects ā McMahon claims taxpayer-funded education should focus only on math, reading, science, and historyānot ādivisive DEI programs and gender ideology.ā But this is misleading. Schools arenāt choosing between core subjects and inclusionātheyāre doing both. Teaching accurate history, fostering critical thinking, and creating welcoming environments for all students is meaningful education. But education isnāt just about test scoresāitās about educating the whole child. Making sure students feel seen, supported, and valued at school isnāt a distraction from learning; itās what makes deep, meaningful learning possible.
3ļøā£ Education as Workforce Training ā McMahon argues that postsecondary education should be a direct path to a well-paying job aligned with workforce needs. But colleges and universities do more than hand out credentialsāthey are hubs of research, innovation, and critical thinking. Reducing higher education to job training ignores the broader value of learning, discovery, and preparing students to shape the future, not just fill positions.
What Happens Next?
If the Department of Education is dismantled, states will scramble to replace funding for critical programs. Special education, student lunch programs, Pell Grantsāwhat happens to them? Who ensures every child has access to a quality education, no matter where they live?
Itās no surprise that most Americans donāt support this planāan āNPR/PBS News/Marist pollā found that 63% oppose shutting down the DoEd, compared to just 37% in favor.
Final thoughts
No matter what thoughts youāre left with, please donāt give up on public education. Thereās power in numbers, and schools are stronger when families stay engaged. This is just the beginningāthere will be a lot of court cases that come from these decisions. I believe the results of McMahonās speech wonāt reflect the outcomes weāll actually see, and we need to keep pushing for whatās best for our kids.
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