The America I know and love has been a source of hope for centuries. It is a country where all people are welcome to seek freedom and the right to an impactful education. A diploma is about so much more than a ticket into college or a career. It’s a way one can develop critical thinking skills and express their creativity while knowing they will be helped every step of the way. It shapes our society’s people to become informed Americans who are hard-working and imaginative.
Project 2025 is abolishing my view of what America should be. President Trump is planning to eliminate the very basis of the country: the Department of Education. This plan, if put into action, could reshape our country’s school administrations, raising an assault on the foundation of our education. By dismantling a federal agency that is vital to making our academic system run smoothly, they threaten to weaken the support networks to prepare people for the future, creating generations ahead of us who will be ill-prepared for adult life. The outcome of this motion would be catastrophic, leading to a shortage of key resources, including funding for low-income schools, teacher training programs, and even special education programs. Ultimately, this would deepen existing problems and limit opportunities for millions of students nationwide who already rely heavily on federal assistance to access what should be a basic right.
Enabling Project 2025 would be a direct attack on the progress America has made over the decades toward creating a more inclusive education system. It threatens our democracy and our autonomy. It raises serious questions about America’s commitment to providing fair education for all, regardless of background. The government needs to prioritize the core values the country was built on that have made academics such a necessary practice for people.
One major concern people should have is that dedicated teachers who have committed their lives to caring for their students may lose their jobs. According to NEAToday, “180,303, the number of teaching positions that would be lost under Project 2025’s elimination of Title I, affecting 2.8 million students.” The result of Project 2025 would lead to severely worsened cuts in school funding, which many districts depend on for extracurricular activities and advanced courses.
Iowa schools will only receive a 2.25 percent spending bonus, which, with today’s inflation, will amount to almost nothing. The new generations will grow up knowing they are missing countless opportunities and experiences that could have changed their lives and their future careers. People are certain that they will start to see a decline in academic scores and quality. Students with an IEP, the most vulnerable of us, won’t have teacher accountability when issues arise.
I truly believe that in a world where we are already under heavy stress due to inflation, job losses, and wars, we don’t need another problem on our plates. Project 2025 would leave students ill-equipped to handle all of the challenges and stresses of adult life. I can’t even imagine what my ancestors would say about throwing away the amazing opportunity that is school, especially since they came to America seeking and fighting for it. Education needs to remain a priority in society, allowing every child the chance to grow. We must look forward to a future where education is accessible and encourages growth, compassion, and unity within our diverse population.
