Even O. Keel
Member
Plans to abolish the U.S. Department of Education—a key part of President-elect Donald Trump’s platform and a priority for his political allies—are a key concern for schools as he prepares to retake the White House in January. But can he—and will he—actually carry through on the promise? And what would it mean if he did?
www.edweek.org
Recently, President elect Donald J. Trump declared his intent to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education, threatening the very promise of equal opportunity for every child in America. This poem is my response—
Across worn desks, chipped and stained by time,
Young hands hold pencils, dreams' tender climb.
In rooms where posters peel from the wall,
A teacher’s voice breaks through the hush of all.
"Each child matters," the mantra they chant--
The nation’s seed, not just privilege’s plant.
For in every word and formula etched,
Is hope that the next chapter’s sketched.
The promise—a ladder for all to ascend,
An oath that no child’s dream will end.
But clouds gather, dense and looming,
Cold gusts of whispers, fortunes grooming.
A specter clad in power’s lust,
Turning public trust into dust.
Public education is more than an institution; it is the cornerstone of democracy, the heartbeat of progress, and the sacred ground upon which generations have planted their hope. To erode this promise in favor of private gain is to turn our backs on the covenant made with every child—that they, too, deserve a fair shot at dignity and understanding, at realizing the spark within them. Yet, we stand on the precipice of that betrayal: a government poised to rip apart what remains of the common good, transferring funds from public schools to private ventures and corporate coffers. This act threatens to widen the chasm between privilege and poverty, condemning millions to ignorance and denying them a future not yet written. The powerful seek to hoard knowledge, turning education into a tool of exclusion, wielded against the vulnerable. What is at stake is nothing less than the soul of the nation—its collective intellect and moral compass.
Behold the halls that grow still and bare,
Books unopened, whispers of despair.
The spark of learning, once so bright,
Dimming fast under political blight.
Leaders speak with forked tongues of choice,
But drown out the public’s trembling voice.
Schools shuttered, children cast aside--
A nation's promise left to slide.
Their aim is profit, a gilded throne,
Education sold, carved into bone.
Who pays the price for dreams denied?
It is the children—left without guide.
Imagine a child in a rusted town where factories closed their gates long ago. Their hope clings to the lessons learned in a school where every crumbling corner testifies to resilience. Now, picture that light extinguished, snuffed out by those who value wealth above all else. This incoming administration, with its MAGA cabinet and a mission to dismantle the Department of Education, seeks to siphon public funds into private institutions, corporations, and those already drunk with power. Under this regime, education becomes a privilege reserved for the few, not the lifeblood of a just society. No longer will children from disadvantaged backgrounds have a place to rise; their wings will be clipped before they can ever attempt to fly. An uneducated populace is easily controlled, silenced, and exploited—a deliberate march toward ignorance masquerading as “choice.” When leaders strip education from the hands of the people, they strike at the roots of democracy itself.
Yet we cannot yield, we cannot bend,
For knowledge’s flame must never end.
Stand for the desks left empty and worn,
For every mind from poverty torn.
Raise your voice for the teachers maligned,
Whose passion flickers, deeply entwined.
For every child denied their right--
We march for justice, day and night.
Let this be a rallying cry,
To guard the future, to testify.
We fight for truth, for minds set free--
Against darkness, we pledge unity.
It is not too late to turn the tide. The people must rise, united and unyielding, to protect what is sacred: the promise that every child, regardless of wealth, race, or background, deserves a fair chance at education. This fight transcends policy; it is a battle for the nation’s very essence, for the idea that democracy flourishes only when all its citizens can read, reason, and rise. We cannot afford complacency as those who seek profit plot to shackle minds. We must protect every classroom, every book, every teacher who dares to believe that knowledge is a right, not a privilege. Let us fight so that when the bell rings, it does so with pride—not as a knell for what has been lost, but as a call to action for what we must defend.
Gather the seeds of knowledge and truth,
Protect the dreams of innocent youth.
With hands entwined, we’ll shield the flame--
In every voice, they’ll know our name.
For tyranny may seek to divide,
But justice walks forever beside.
In the fight for learning, stand we must--
A promise kept, a sacred trust.
Can Trump Really Dismantle the Department of Education?
Republicans have long threatened to axe the U.S. Department of Education, but doing so would be complicated.
www.edweek.org
Across worn desks, chipped and stained by time,
Young hands hold pencils, dreams' tender climb.
In rooms where posters peel from the wall,
A teacher’s voice breaks through the hush of all.
"Each child matters," the mantra they chant--
The nation’s seed, not just privilege’s plant.
For in every word and formula etched,
Is hope that the next chapter’s sketched.
The promise—a ladder for all to ascend,
An oath that no child’s dream will end.
But clouds gather, dense and looming,
Cold gusts of whispers, fortunes grooming.
A specter clad in power’s lust,
Turning public trust into dust.
Public education is more than an institution; it is the cornerstone of democracy, the heartbeat of progress, and the sacred ground upon which generations have planted their hope. To erode this promise in favor of private gain is to turn our backs on the covenant made with every child—that they, too, deserve a fair shot at dignity and understanding, at realizing the spark within them. Yet, we stand on the precipice of that betrayal: a government poised to rip apart what remains of the common good, transferring funds from public schools to private ventures and corporate coffers. This act threatens to widen the chasm between privilege and poverty, condemning millions to ignorance and denying them a future not yet written. The powerful seek to hoard knowledge, turning education into a tool of exclusion, wielded against the vulnerable. What is at stake is nothing less than the soul of the nation—its collective intellect and moral compass.
Behold the halls that grow still and bare,
Books unopened, whispers of despair.
The spark of learning, once so bright,
Dimming fast under political blight.
Leaders speak with forked tongues of choice,
But drown out the public’s trembling voice.
Schools shuttered, children cast aside--
A nation's promise left to slide.
Their aim is profit, a gilded throne,
Education sold, carved into bone.
Who pays the price for dreams denied?
It is the children—left without guide.
Imagine a child in a rusted town where factories closed their gates long ago. Their hope clings to the lessons learned in a school where every crumbling corner testifies to resilience. Now, picture that light extinguished, snuffed out by those who value wealth above all else. This incoming administration, with its MAGA cabinet and a mission to dismantle the Department of Education, seeks to siphon public funds into private institutions, corporations, and those already drunk with power. Under this regime, education becomes a privilege reserved for the few, not the lifeblood of a just society. No longer will children from disadvantaged backgrounds have a place to rise; their wings will be clipped before they can ever attempt to fly. An uneducated populace is easily controlled, silenced, and exploited—a deliberate march toward ignorance masquerading as “choice.” When leaders strip education from the hands of the people, they strike at the roots of democracy itself.
Yet we cannot yield, we cannot bend,
For knowledge’s flame must never end.
Stand for the desks left empty and worn,
For every mind from poverty torn.
Raise your voice for the teachers maligned,
Whose passion flickers, deeply entwined.
For every child denied their right--
We march for justice, day and night.
Let this be a rallying cry,
To guard the future, to testify.
We fight for truth, for minds set free--
Against darkness, we pledge unity.
It is not too late to turn the tide. The people must rise, united and unyielding, to protect what is sacred: the promise that every child, regardless of wealth, race, or background, deserves a fair chance at education. This fight transcends policy; it is a battle for the nation’s very essence, for the idea that democracy flourishes only when all its citizens can read, reason, and rise. We cannot afford complacency as those who seek profit plot to shackle minds. We must protect every classroom, every book, every teacher who dares to believe that knowledge is a right, not a privilege. Let us fight so that when the bell rings, it does so with pride—not as a knell for what has been lost, but as a call to action for what we must defend.
Gather the seeds of knowledge and truth,
Protect the dreams of innocent youth.
With hands entwined, we’ll shield the flame--
In every voice, they’ll know our name.
For tyranny may seek to divide,
But justice walks forever beside.
In the fight for learning, stand we must--
A promise kept, a sacred trust.
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