The United States education system is waiting in the wind as President-elect Donald Trump continues to meet with different authorities to decide on his potential policies. He already has Betsy DeVos in mind to become the next education secretary.
Betsy DeVos is going to replace current US education secretary John King. Aside from this assignment, the Trump administration is reportedly going to prioritize school choice and will weaken the subjects of evolution and climate change.
Recalling Donald Trump's presidential campaign, education oftentimes took a back seat. If answers were offered, they were vague and unclear, cites the Scientific American. Although Trump indicated he has plans but he focused on business, trade and immigration more during his campaign.
According to reports, the academic world is now worried about the future of liberal arts and STEM education because of his dislike for some of the subjects in science - particularly the teachings of evolution and global warming or climate change. This is the sentiments expressed by Laurence Tribe, a professor of constitutional law at Harvard Law.
With his pick for education secretary, Betsy DeVos, Douglas Harris, a professor of economics at Tulane University said that her preference when it comes to the educational system will involve little government as possible.
Having Vice President-elect Mike Pence by his side, Donald Trump is assured that school choice will be championed. Reports are showing that Trump has officially pledged $20 billion in federal funding to support school choice for students and families of low-income categories. But it is still not yet certain where this fund will come from. According to his official website, Trump may ask all the states to contribute an additional $110 billion.
But one thing is clear, the administration, according to the publication, will not have any official say over what is being taught inside the classrooms. Regardless of Trump's anti-science sentiment and goal to end Common Core, the United States does not give the president authority to set education standards.
