1. United States
2. Tenn.
3. Letter

I live in Middle TN — in the Smyrna/Murfreesboro area, just south of Nashville. Did you know that there are 20 Title I schools in the Rutherford County and Murfreesboro City Schools systems? Did you also know that there are over 1,500 just in the state of TN? If you knew that stripping funding from schools like this would mean that class sizes/behavior problems/staffing issues/learning gaps would increase, would you still believe demolishing the ED will make America great? This legislation will have long-lasting effects on public education. The ED does not make curricular decisions. Those decisions, as well as many, many others fall to the states, which is in line with Republican values. But it does send funding to state/local school systems every year via the Title I program. This program works to provide equal education opportunities through teacher training, the purchase of materials, and enrichment programs. I can’t tell you how many kids I know who rely on these funds just to make it through a day. Kids who don’t eat at home. It’s not their fault. My husband was a teacher for 15 years. The stories he’s privileged to know would break anyone’s heart. Would they break yours? The ED also provides billions of dollars in financial aid through programs like Pell Grants — as I’m sure you’re aware. It runs FAFSA, too. If we want our kids to go to college and for there to be a chance of affordability, we need this. I benefitted from this as a child. I did so well in undergrad, my university paid me to get my MBA. It changed my life for the season in which I needed it. Are we at all interested in being sure children are treated fairly and kept safe while at school? The ED helps to support funding, in conjuntion with local districts to fund school safety programs. Programs like: *Emergency management/planning *School counseling and climate *Violence prevention *Facility security *School safety personnel *Behavioral health Ending the Department of Education will cause more problems than it will solve. Not to be frank, but do you want loyal voters or dumb voters? A poorly educated generation can’t, in fact, make America great because fundamental rights of education were stripped away before these kids ever had a voice to ask for help. Not to mention the number of teachers who will leave the profession. There is already a massive teacher shortage, and secondary ed program enrollment rates are steadily declining. The teachers who stay are working harder than ever to support students with the resources they have — and spending more money out of their already inequitable pockets. Mr. President, you can’t end the ED without congressional approval. Checks and balances and all that boring stuff. Congress — you have a chance to be a voice for the voiceless while STILL advocating for state’s rights, which is in line with Party values. Do you want to follow Republican values, or do you want to follow Trump?