Forgiving Student Loans
The rising cost of college education and the resulting increase in student loan debt has become a significant concern in the United States. According to a foreign media report, the cost of college has more than doubled in the past four decades, leading to a 66% increase in student loan debt over the past decade, with total debt now exceeding $1.74 trillion according to the Federal Reserve. Notably, Biden’s student loan forgiveness plan was blocked by the Supreme Court. Now, the big question is: should the government take action to provide relief from student debt?
Kamala Harris’ Viewpoint: Vice President Harris reiterated her commitment to working with President Biden to expand his loan forgiveness policies. She envisions a future where government employees no longer have to ‘struggle with the burden of student-loan debt.’ Though she did not provide specific details about her plans if elected, she highlighted the Biden administration’s three-part plan announced last year, which included forgiveness of up to $20,000 for federal student loan borrowers.
Donald Trump’s Viewpoint: Former President Trump criticized the Biden administration, saying it misled college graduates by promising to cancel student loans. He praised the Supreme Court for blocking Biden’s student loan forgiveness plan, arguing that it would be “very unfair to millions of people who have worked hard to pay off their debt.”
Teaching about racial theory, sexuality, and gender
Another hotly debated issue in the US education system is what is the right age to teach students about sexuality and gender. According to an international media report, while most teachers, students, and parents agree that it is important to discuss racism in schools, LGBTQ+-related topics receive a mixed response. Some teachers believe gender identity should not be discussed in schools, and opinions are divided even among teenagers.
Kamala Harris’ Viewpoint: Vice President Harris has consistently opposed efforts to limit what is taught about race in schools, calling supporters of such measures extremists who “refuse to acknowledge the true and full history of our country.” She has also spoken out against bans on books about LGBTQ+ experiences and laws restricting what teachers can discuss in the classroom.
Donald Trump’s Viewpoint: Trump vows to ditch ‘critical race theory’ Critical race theory is an intellectual and social movement and a loose framework of legal analysis based on the premise that race is not a natural, biologically based characteristic of physically distinct subgroups of humans but rather a socially constructed category used to oppress and exploit people of color.
When it comes to teaching about sexuality and gender, Trump seems to be quite conservative. While he has not specified at what age students should learn about sexuality or gender, he has promised to cut federal funding to schools that he says promote “transgender madness.”
Transgender student debate
Issues involving transgender students have long been a subject of controversy in the US. Last month, the US Supreme Court temporarily blocked a new rule from the Biden administration aimed at protecting students from discrimination based on gender identity. In addition, debate continues over which toilets transgender students should use and which sports teams they should join.
Kamala Harris’ Viewpoint: Harris has opposed state laws that deny transgender individuals access to restrooms that match their gender identity, arguing that such laws amount to gender identity discrimination. The Biden-Harris administration has issued regulations prohibiting schools from discriminating against students based on gender identity, though they have not directly addressed transgender student participation in sports.
Donald Trump’s Viewpoint: During his presidency, Trump rolled back protections allowing transgender students to use school bathrooms that corresponded with their gender identity. At a 2022 campaign rally, he said he would “ban men from women’s sports,” an apparent reference to barring transgender women from competing in female sports.
Shutting down the US Department of Education
Another major debate that is ongoing concerns the U.S. Department of Education. Former President Donald Trump advocates shutting down the department, while Vice President Kamala Harris opposes the move. Many Republicans support local control of education, but Harris and many Democrats argue that it could increase inequities, especially for marginalized students in some districts.
Donald Trump’s views: Last month, Trump discussed his plan to abolish the Department of Education during an interview with billionaire Elon Musk. “I want to close the Department of Education and take education back to the states,” Trump said, according to international media reports. He and some Republicans argue that education should be managed at the local and state levels, arguing that the US Constitution does not provide for a federal role in education.
Kamala Harris’ views: In her Democratic convention speech, Harris responded to Trump’s proposal by saying, “We will not let him eliminate the Department of Education that funds our public schools,” as reported by international media.
