While vocational skill acquisition is not in any way underrated, most Americans grow up hearing about the numerous benefits of having a formal education. However, it would seem that, over time, we’ve come to forget just how important this factor is to securing the future of our children. That’s the only explanation that can justify the palpable state of things. It’s the only thing that’ll explain why someone can be poised to make the situation even worse and receive cheers from all corners for that proposal.

Let’s get to brass tacks and address former president Trump’s “plans” to reduce federal authority over state K-12 education. Should the federal government’s role in this sector be reevaluated? Absolutely. Just like we see in so many other sectors, the current policies don’t do enough to compensate for the dynamic situation of the modern world we live in. The result of this is that we find ourselves surrounded by an ineffectual system.

However, does that mean that the bulk of the responsibilities for financing this institution should be passed to the state and other organizations?

No, it doesn’t. The reason for this is simple; there is arguably no better arm of government more suited for managing the education needs in the country than the federal government. Let’s look into why that may be the case.

For those who may not be aware, public schools account for the second largest infrastructure sector in the entire country. Interestingly enough, they easily rank among the most neglected in the nation at present. All you need to do to know just how the U.S. treats its education system is to take a good look at the condition of its infrastructure.

At least 50% of the school districts in the country either need to completely replace various buildings or update them extensively. Of course, things were bad before the pandemic hit. However, that event did much to make an already bad matter so, so much worse. And the looming promise of never-before-seen extreme weather is almost certain to escalate this situation.

This raises the important question of why some people would even think that this is the best time to cut federal funding to K-12 schools.

Incumbent Vice President Kamala Harris seems determined to change this situation in a way that few before him have. That’s why she’s promising to actively ensure that these institutions get more funding. Of course, the school of thought on this particular matter is fractured into two sides. On one hand, we have people who will likely think that all of this is a cheap attempt at enticing voters to tick Harris in the coming election. On the other are people who believe he’s sincere about doing this but are opposed to the thought because they can’t quite justify the benefit of channeling more funds into the country’s educational institution.

For those who believe that this is little more than a simple trick to capture the minds of unsuspecting voters, I’d like to draw your attention to the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), which the current administration was very quick to sign into law in November 2021. More specifically, you may not know that the Biden/Harris administration specifically requested that $100 billion from this fund be directed toward upgrading school facilities around the country. Unfortunately, this request didn’t come to fruition in the final draft of the IIJA. Now, while that might be a bitter disappointment, it’s undoubtedly the conclusive evidence that you need to see that this individual is committed to making the education system in the country better. He’s not after cheap clout, nor is he being dishonest. Rather, unlike many before him, he fully registers how dangerous the ledge we stand on currently is and he’s determined to bring us back to where we should be.

For those who believe that things should stay as they are and that the federal government can’t serve the people by increasing the allocation to schools, consider the following.

First, should the K-12 education infrastructure trajectory continue as it were, it would only take a few years for the funds needed to maintain and modernize it to exceed $1 trillion. So, ask yourself objectively; can the average state and local authority cater to a need so significant? More importantly, what happens when they inevitably fall short of expectations? Are the children just supposed to be left hanging?

This is the simple truth that no one is willing to admit; without significant and appreciable long-term investment in the education sector from the federal government, this institution will ultimately fall into disrepair. And while only students will feel the consequences of this at first, it’s only a matter of time before the nation starts to decline as a result, too.

At present, national spending directed to this sector falls short by an estimated $85 billion annually. This creates a crack in the way that only widens with time.

Because these schools don’t get the resources they need, teachers and students alike are constantly increasingly exposed to mold spores, debris, and other toxic and harmful substances. Should we give Harris’s plan the nod, it’s certain to correct the quality factor in this environment and improve the standard of student learning as a result.

Beyond just improving air quality and making the school environment safe again, it’ll electrify the school transportation system. This means that we can finally say goodbye to diesel school buses and the harmful pollutants that they emit. You might think that this is no big deal until you discover that your child could be inhaling four times more the amount of diesel exhaust when they ride these buses compared to those who ride in cars. Needless to say, this puts them at risk of respiratory diseases and even certain cancers.

At the end of the day, supporting Harris’s plans to increase funding for K-12 schools is not really a choice – it’s a decision we have to make now while we can still salvage the situation. Trump’s agenda for reducing federal authority over this institution is an argument that doesn’t hold water in any appreciable regard.