Listen To Story Above
President Donald Trump demonstrated rare candor about America’s educators during a recent press conference announcing his executive order to dissolve the Department of Education. His remarks, largely overlooked by mainstream media, offered genuine support for teachers while maintaining consistent messaging.
Dismantling the educational bureaucracy could prove tremendously beneficial for teachers. During his address, shared on X, Trump stated, “I want to just make one little personal statement. Teachers, to me, are among the most important people in this country. And we’re gonna take care of our teachers.”
As applause filled the room, he continued, “And I don’t care if they’re in the union or not in the union. That doesn’t matter.”
TRUMP: "I want to just make one little personal statement: Teachers, to me, are among the most important people in this country… and we're going to take care of our teachers."
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) March 20, 2025
This stance particularly resonates with conservatives who traditionally oppose union influence, especially given the controversial nature of teachers’ unions.
Trump emphasized individual educators’ dedication, declaring, “But we’re gonna take care of our teachers. And I believe — I believe the states will take actually better care of them than they are taken care of right now. They’ll work all sorts of systems and even merit systems. Those great teachers are gonna be maybe a little bit better rewarded, and maybe that’s the way it should be, but the states are gonna make that decision.”
Exceptional educators deserve increased compensation, which may become possible as resources shift away from administrative overhead.
The president emphasized a collaborative approach, stating, “But we’re gonna love and cherish our teachers along with our children, and they’re gonna work with the parents, and they’re gonna work with everybody else, and it’s gonna be an amazing thing to watch, and it’s really gonna be something special.”
My experience as a history professor since 1998 revealed academia’s widespread disdain for education departments. Their criticism stemmed not from ideological differences but from perceived academic inadequacy.
An interaction with my supervising professor, a mild-mannered liberal known for strict grading, illustrated this sentiment. When discussing my teaching assistant duties, I naively asked about grading doctoral students’ work. His appalled response – “NO WAY! What do you think this is, the College of Education?” – exemplified the prevalent attitude.
Teacher loses it in class and threatens student over Trump support.
This is exactly why the DOE needs to be eliminated. pic.twitter.com/PhvXvVX2Bh
— CaliRN619 🚑🩺🚑 (@CaliRN619) February 14, 2025
Throughout my academic career, only once did I encounter praise for an education college, making it memorable for its uniqueness.
Successful teachers often excel despite their training, not because of it. The education system primarily benefits mediocre instructors who transition to administration after obtaining advanced education degrees, subsequently dictating teaching methods to more capable educators.
While exceptions exist among administrators, the overall structure promotes mediocrity. Even liberal academics recognized this issue but remained silent, likely due to shared political affiliations with education establishment Democrats.
Trump’s initiative to separate teachers from bureaucratic control addresses a long-standing problem, making his attack on credential-focused administration particularly significant.
