No matter who you are in the world, there’s a good chance that you can agree that better education is a goal that every civilized society should work towards. Of course, this isn’t just about a passion for knowledge to future generations, but ensuring that they have the critical thinking and skills needed to help the human race grow and flourish in a meaningful way. While there might not be anyone who is outright against better education, the truth is that Republicans have time and again proved that they are willing to sacrifice education as a priority.
Republicans might not admit this, but the truth is that public education is essential to the United States. They not only attract the best teachers, but also allow for more diversity and are more fiscally responsible than their private counterparts - which is important for many local economies. Republicans are notoriously harsh when it comes to the public sector, and want to minimize the role of public schools in the education system. Many of them believe that education belongs in the private sector. As a result, many public school teachers overwhelmingly support the Democratic Party.
We all know that politics can sometimes feel like a hamster wheel, where a political party never truly evolves because it is constantly compromising to its base, which never expands precisely because they do not compromise. This certainly can be the case, as Republicans and public education have continually been at odds for some time now. There is the idea that the private market will always allow for competition, and that this is the superior option. Our current U.S. President, Donald Trump, who won as a Republican, has stated about competition with regards to the education sector: “Competition always does it. The weak fall out and the strong get better. It is an amazing thing. It is clear that Trump is thinking with the focus of a businessman, rather than the empathy of a politician, who might recognize, for example, how important the public school system is to those with special needs.
While some might try to minimize the importance of teachers unions in terms of political influence - the truth is that they actually are quite important to the Democratic Party, and Republicans know this. They are constantly advocating for women’s rights and LGBT rights - and this certainly doesn’t align with the principles of the Republican Party. For those wondering about how obvious Republicans can often be against these particular groups of people, consider this - a Republican candidate by the name of Steve West in Missouri recently lost an election because his own children declared him homophobic and racist. Specifically, West’s daughter, Emily, stated: “I can’t imagine him being in any level of government. He’s made multiple comments that are racist and homophobic and how he doesn’t like the Jews.”
While public schools are focused on diversity and inclusion - it is becoming increasingly clear that Republicans are focused on dividing the nation, especially when it comes to issues such as immigration. There are countless incidents of racism with regards to the Republican Party that seem to go unnoticed until it’s convenient, and it is easy to see how this puts them at odds with public schools and the people who help them succeed.