[nyc_data_geek1]

If your engagement with politics, civics and public policy begins and ends with how much groceries and gas cost, then you are the perfect consumer, and something less than a thinking, rational human with agency and awareness. What is a human without curiosity or critical thinking, but a biological consuming robot? Which incidentally is what the new department of education will try to create a population of, by destroying public education.

Edit: Scratch that, they plan to abolish the department of education

[jcgrillo]

Thank you for writing this in such a polite and erudite manner. You saved me from posting an obscenity laden ad hominem.

[dionian]

Don't states have their own DOE?

[alienthrowaway]

States also have their national guardsmen, does that mean it's a good idea to disband the army?

[philjohn]

Yes - and states actually control much of the curriculum.

However, the DOE does things like make sure there is funding for children with additional needs, which lets be honest, are not going to be replicated in certain states if the DOE is indeed disbanded.

[nyc_data_geek1]

Does this mean there is no value in maintaining federal education standards, or do we want to let states decide if they want to abolish theirs as well?