“I love the poorly educated” were the words of President Donald Trump after winning the Nevada Republican Caucus. During his second term as president, Trump has not only worked to gain the support of the “poorly educated” but also to expand his influence through the destruction of educational bastions. In dismantling the Department of Education (ED), Trump cut funding for special education programs, educational loans, civil rights in education and more. Without federal funding, underfunded schools, including many in poor, rural areas that voted for Trump, will suffer, and America will fall further in education and literacy rate rankings. Cutting the ED is also a clear political advantage for Trump, as 56 percent of voters without a college degree voted for him. When Trump removes access to a college degree, he guarantees future voters for himself. Trump’s dismantling of education and educational programs signals a path towards anti-intellectualism, threatening the foundation of our democracy.
Anti-intellectualism, or distrust in the educated and education, is not new. While we have never seen it on such a large scale in America, it has crawled its way out of the darkest corners of history. Totalitarian governments have used anti-intellectualism to promote their ideals and create distrust in certain groups to promote their rule.
Anti-intellectualism is often signaled by ignorance of common knowledge, such as the ignorance of important documents or even the burning of books. In the first days of his presidency, Trump posted a visual of himself on Instagram as a king, a blatant disregard for the Declaration of Independence. This was met with thunderous approval from his followers, even though the Declaration of Independence firmly decrees that America will be without a king.
Traditionally, public education, a stronghold of America, has been valued by the public. In the era of anti-intellectualism, popular thought says that allowing all Americans to have a free and fair education is wrong. Following this line of reasoning, the Department of Education quickly became a victim of the Department of Government Efficiency. Other victims of government cuts followed, including the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS). Home to wholesome shows like Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood and Arthur, it’s hard to see how PBS represents a threat to our nation. PBS presents free content to audiences of all ages across the US. According to Trump, PBS saw reduced funding because it “receives millions from taxpayers to spread radical, woke propaganda disguised as ‘news.’” If a decidedly cute tiger visiting the dentist is radical, woke propaganda, then it seems Trump is in the right. PBS not only provides entertaining programming for young children, but also provides a free education. According to YouGov, PBS is valued for education by 82 percent of Americans. Imagine if 82 percent of Americans couldn’t learn basic life skills like reading and writing. It would be hard to be an independent thinker when all one hears is news from a notoriously untrustworthy politician.
Trump has also promoted the idea that college is a land of indoctrination, and has subsequently gone after America’s leading academic institutions. Harvard University, Princeton University and Columbia University have all seen funding stripped away as Trump attempts to force his agenda through oversight. Without famous research universities like Harvard paving the way for research, America would be a far less advanced nation. We would be unable to spread truthful and advanced information without universities. We wouldn’t be able to discuss political and economic theory freely, and be able to undergo the intellectual pursuit of criticizing the government. With Trump’s educational cuts, America stands to lose freedom.
Many proponents of Trump’s cuts argue that the cuts focus on American values and allow for accountability of “radical ideas” in higher education. Look even slightly into the American public education system, and one will find nothing radical about the education children receive. Some believe that schools are trying to shame white children for slavery, a false narrative. The same people think that their children are being taught to be anti-American. Being taught about slavery is not anti-American.
One should understand that America is far from a perfect place. It is a work in progress. Learning American history in an honest light helps us rectify past mistakes, and through this education, the next generation of American leaders can benefit the nation. I don’t believe that my education in American history has made me angry at my nation. It has forced me to understand the value of progress, from unions to civil rights. It’s not anti-American. It just tells a full narrative that is more well-rounded than what our parents were taught.
To those scared about their academic future, it is important to fight for their education and access to knowledge. Knowledge is power, and without it, we let those who don’t care for our values seize the reins. Citizens who can never fully understand the value of our democracy. Education and intellectualism are important to protecting our nation and its democratic values.
