While Gen Z is arguably one of the most politically active generations for their age, there are some teens who don’t care about the election or follow political news. This year’s election is going to be especially relevant to teens, with issues that will directly impact our education on the line. Donald Trump’s campaign website lists out his education policies, and there are more than a few that should be concerning, from policies on teaching race and gender to school funding sources. It is imperative that teens are aware of what’s on the line this November and are doing whatever they can to encourage people to vote against Trump.
Teaching of topics surrounding race and gender
Trump’s website says that, “President Trump will get Critical Race Theory, transgender ideology, and left-wing indoctrination OUT of our schools.”
Critical Race Theory (CRT) is the idea that racism is not on an individual level, but that it has been ingrained into society. While this theory is not new, it has been increasingly targeted by conservatives in recent years, especially in relation to education. States such as Florida have banned it from being taught in schools, and passed other laws that ban the teaching of topics relating to race.
After banning the teaching of CRT in 2021, Florida banned courses such as AP African American Studies the following year. The state claimed that the course content violated its laws. College Board released a statement on the matter, arguing that the state government was unclear as to what specifically violated the law.
Kentucky also has a history with attempting to ban discussions of race in schools. In 2022, the state legislature passed HB 14, a bill that banned race being discussed in K-12 schools.
While HB 15 was vetoed by Governor Andy Beshear, if Trump was re-elected, he would support national measures to censor school curriculums and prevent students from learning about the role race has played in American history. In order to have a fully comprehensive understanding of our country’s history, students need to understand how attitudes of the past have affected the present situation of America.
Trump isn’t only attacking curriculums relating to race, he also wants to remove discussions of LGBTQ+ issues in the classroom as well. Florida also banned AP Psychology due to a unit that contained materials relating to gender and sexuality.
“As a committee, we affirm that gender and sexual orientation are essential, longstanding, and foundational topics in the study of psychology. College-level introductory psychology students will encounter gender and sexual orientation as topics of study. Psychology graduates go on to pursue a range of careers and must be able to successfully navigate professional environments that will require familiarity with these concepts,” College Board wrote in response to the ban.
In 2023, the Kentucky legislature passed SB 150. This bill covers many topics, one of which prohibits schools from being able to talk about gender identity or sexuality.
Trump supports the banning of these topics from schools as well. This kind of legislation will lead to an unsupportive learning environment for many students. Every student deserves to learn in an environment where they feel accepted and appreciated for who they are, not a place where they feel ashamed of themselves.
Public School funding
On Nov. 5, Kentuckians will vote on amendment two of the state constitution. This amendment would allow the state to use public money to fund private schools. Other states have passed similar legislation, such as West Virginia’s 2021 Hope Scholarship Program.
The West Virginia Center on Budget and Policy reported that the state public school system is expected to lose $21.6 million due to the Hope Scholarship Program this school year. This will result in the loss of state funding for roughly 364 teachers and other school personnel.
Trump’s 2018 budget proposal included 13% less funding for the Department of Education than in 2017. It also sets aside $168 million for charter schools and $250 million for private school programs. Congress did not pass this part of the budget, but it shows where Trump and his administration stand on the issue of school funding.
Policies like these would result in government funding going to schools that don’t need it instead of those that do. Public schools ensure that all students have access to an adequate education, no matter what their socioeconomic status is. Limiting funding to these schools will widen the gap between the rich and the poor, inhibiting equality.
Conclusion
If you’re eligible, vote in this election. The best way to prevent Trump from enacting national changes like these is to vote for Kamala Harris. If you are not old enough to vote this year, organizations like Louisville Young Democrats or Young Democrats of America provide opportunities for teens to get involved in politics. At the very least, stay informed about what’s happening in politics. While many of us are not old enough to vote, it’s clear that this election will have huge repercussions for America’s youth.
