Let’s be real for a second — our education system is struggling. Over the last decade, it feels like things have gone downhill fast. And while there are plenty of reasons for this, getting rid of the Department of Education would only make things worse. Like, way worse.
Think about it: we’ve already slashed funding for schools, banned books left and right, and watered down how we teach history and geography. Kids today aren’t learning the basics like they used to. Ask a teenager to point out a country on a map, and you might get a blank stare. It’s not their fault — they’re just not being taught! They don’t know about pivotal moments in history like the Boston Tea Party or the real stories behind the Civil War, slavery, or what happened between colonizers and Native Americans.
And math? Don’t even get me started. Sure, calculators are great tools, but should kids really be allowed to rely on them for everything, even during tests? Here’s a real-life example: You’re at the store, your bill is $21.56, and you hand the cashier $25 after they’ve already entered $40 into the register. Suddenly, they’re panicking because they can’t figure out your change without the computer telling them. It’s not just frustrating — it’s sad.
Then there’s cursive writing. Remember learning how to sign your name in school? Well, that’s becoming a lost art. Kids today don’t learn cursive, so when they’re handed a form to sign (with an actual pen!), they struggle. And let’s not even get into how little they know about major historical events like the Great Depression or Ireland’s potato famine.
The lack of basic life skills is glaring too. Many young people can’t hold down a job when they’re old enough to work. They want higher pay but less responsibility — and honestly, who can blame them when they’ve grown up in a system that hasn’t prepared them for the real world?
So, what’s the deal? Have we spoiled this generation too much? Or are we just failing to teach them what they actually need to know? Maybe it’s both. But one thing is clear: scrapping the Department of Education isn’t going to fix anything. If anything, it’ll just make the situation worse.
We need to invest in education — not abandon it. We need to bring back proper funding, teach history and geography in a way that sticks, and make sure kids are learning practical skills like math without relying on technology 24/7. Let’s give them the tools they need to succeed in life, not just pass standardized tests.
Because at the end of the day, these kids are our future. And if we don’t start teaching them what matters now, we’re all going to feel the consequences later.
