After President Donald Trump signed an executive order calling for the dismantling of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), the liberal groups responded immediately.
Here are some responses:
The National Education Association and the NAACP filed a lawsuit challenging the president’s executive order. Andrew Spur, president of the Florida Education Association, said President Trump is engaged in a “political game.” Additionally, state leader of the Florida Democratic Party, Nikki Fried described Trump’s order as “unconstitutional.”
The chairman of the Volusia County local teachers union group, Elizabeth Albert of Volusia United Educators, said it would be very troublesome to demolish or eliminate the Department of Education.
Other union groups said closing federal agencies would cause “irrevocable” for parents and students, especially those with disabilities, and that civil rights for students are no longer protected.
“Is this a reaction or an overreaction?” said Educational analyst Dr. Ed Moore. Moore, a longtime president of an independent university at Florida’s Independent University (ICUF), says the “sky falling” mentality from a teachers’ union group is amazing.
“They will talk about what if the funds are stopped from the education department, and that would hurt family students and school districts and not,” Moore said.
Moore points out that on average, the federal government only funds 8% of local school costs, while states and local governments fund 92% through property taxes.
Moore also says the DOE is overrated when it comes to student achievement. “Florida will determine the curriculum,” Moore said. “The state chooses textbooks and the state certifies teachers.”
Another claim by the union is that elimination of the education sector puts student loan programs at risk. However, the Trump White House has said this is not true. The president announced that student loans and special education services will be administered by other agencies, such as the Department of Small Business Administration and the Department of Health and Human Services.
