In December 2016 I wrote in this same space a note motivated by the unexpected victory of Donald Trump. Thirty years after Ronald Reagan regretted not having achieved legislation that gave low-income families the right to decide about their children’s schooling, Trump came to the presidency taking up this agenda and with the aim of making it a reality.
Today Trump is once again elected president of the United States, and this fact could mark a before and after in the North American educational system. The educational freedom policy, which has been under construction for decades within the Republican Party, could finally be consolidated.
Since the ’80s, figures such as Reagan, Mitt Romney and Jeb Bush defended the idea that parents should be able to choose the schools their children attend. Their efforts faced relentless opposition that slowed the proposal’s progress. Trump, unlike his predecessors, has been able to capitalize on the growing discontent of families, turning educational freedom into a banner that today has unprecedented social support.
During his first term, he furthered this policy with the appointment of Betsy DeVos as Secretary of Education, directly challenging the power of the teachers union. DeVos, backed by the American Federation for Children, worked to keep education funding following students rather than schools, creating programs that allowed families to choose the best educational option for their children.
This vision met with fierce resistance from the teaching union and the educational establishment, who recognize educational freedom as a threat to their monopoly power and, certainly, not only in the United States; But let’s think about the reactions that the mere mention of the topic generates in our country.
Donald Trump’s new victory provides a formidable boost to this policy, and not only from the executive branch. Educational freedom gained strong social support during the 2022 midterm elections, when it became a key issue for the electorate.
This phenomenon did not arise out of nowhere. The Covid-19 pandemic, with its prolonged school closures and the inefficiency of many institutions in responding to the educational challenge, made families see up close the limitations of a public system that could not adapt to the needs of students.
For millions of low-income families there was no choice but to remain in a system that failed to provide an adequate education. Since the pandemic, educational freedom went from being a minority idea to an increasingly visible demand.
The wave is underway and Trump’s victory could turn it into a tsunami that marks the beginning of an educational revolution. And at home, how are we doing?
Today, for the first time in Argentina, a government does not consider educational freedom as a taboo, but as a concrete possibility that would grant families the power to decide. Educational freedom would give a voice to those families who until now have had no option, trapped in a system that, many times, does not respond to their needs or their values.
May this new reality in the US inspire us to move towards an education based on freedom of choice, where the right to decide what is best for your own children is not a privilege for a few, but a right for all.
What key historical events have shaped the educational freedom policy under the Republican Party in the United States?
1. Can you discuss the historical context and evolution of the educational freedom policy in the United States, particularly under the Republican Party? How has the idea gained momentum and changed over time?
2. What were the major accomplishments of former President Reagan and Secretary DeVos in promoting educational freedom during their terms, and how did they overcome initial resistance from the educational establishment and teaching unions?
3. How has the COVID-19 pandemic impacted public opinion and support for educational freedom in the United States? Can you provide examples of successful programs or initiatives that have emerged during this time?
4. What challenges do you see for the educational freedom movement under the second Trump administration, especially with increased funding and social support?
5. As per the article, Argentina is also considering educational freedom as a possibility. Could you share more about the current state of education in Argentina and what reforms or initiatives are being discussed or implemented in this regard?
6. How do you envision the future of educational freedom in the United States and Argentina, and what are the potential benefits and drawbacks of such a system?
