Doublespeak

The slow death of the Department of Education

“We know that no one ever seizes power with the intention of relinquishing it. Power is not a means; it is an end.” ~George Orwell, 1984

George Orwell has been on my mind a lot and I am sure on yours as well. I taught “1984” in a Brit Lit class. The kids were always shaken at the authoritarianism and the cruelty of Oceania.

You understand deeply why I mention Orwell at this moment.

As of late, I could scream. I knew these next four years would be difficult, but I didn’t imagine the absolute chaos on day one. And two. And three.

And every damn day. It never stops and we aren’t even two weeks in.

Besides the obvious cruelty, it’s the language of this administration that drives me mad…the lack of civil and academic and professional language. The feeling that we all get a little dimmer every time we listen to a lackey or toady or the President spouting lies and demeaning journalists. Demeaning anyone with any sense who listens to what is coming out of the White House. It’s torture to know that what we see is what we get.

The dumbing down of a country, one presser at a time. One Cabinet pick at a time. One Department at a time.

“It's a beautiful thing, the destruction of words.” ~George Orwell, 1984

Orwell would likely call the current state of the Department of Education as the Department of Uneducation.

Remember Newspeak? It was Orwell’s fictional language designed by a totalitarian government to control the population by limiting vocabulary and manipulating the meaning of words, restricting the range of thought and critical thinking.

Sound familiar?

We were told that the Trump administration would abolish the Department of Education. That was a lie, though it may have been a more dignified way to go.

I have been reading the posts and proclamations from the department, and I could not have been less prepared for the devolution. No one warned me — I was ready to fight for the department, instead we have to be prepared to fight the department and what it has become.

I have been overwhelmed as I watch the Orwellian Facebook posts from the department.

A screenshot from the Department of Education’s Facebook account. 1/23/25

From the Education Department on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.

The U.S. Department of Education has taken action to eliminate harmful DEI initiatives... These actions are in line with President Trump’s ongoing commitment to end illegal discrimination and wasteful spending across the federal government. They are the first step in reorienting the agency toward prioritizing meaningful learning ahead of divisive ideology in our schools.

Harmful? Divisive ideology? DEI hiring practices are designed to create a diverse and equitable workplace so all employees have equal opportunities regardless of their background. How is that divisive? Oh, I bet you know…and if you happen to be anyone who isn’t white or male, according to the Trump administration, and the Department of Education, you are a DEI hire. No matter how qualified. No matter how tenured.

DEI is a perversion of language — say Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.

That acronym hides the true meaning and frightens conservatives though they do not know why — remember CRT? This new administration will tell you DEI is to blame for everything from low test scores in schools to mid-air plane crashes on the Potomac.

“But if thought corrupts language, language can also corrupt thought.” ~George Orwell, 1984

A screenshot from the Department of Education’s Facebook account. 1/30/25

Another Orwellian perversion of language? School choice. You aren’t crazy. This is gaslighting 101.

The Department of Education is celebrating “school choice” week and promoting faith-based education as a choice. Of course it is a choice, but it’s odd to advertise the filling of church coffers from siphoning the funding of public schools — the places where over 90% of children learn in this country.

We know that draining taxpayer money into private religious schools has been the goal of Christian Nationalism for decades, but we are seeing the policies put into place to accomplish the goal.

Many states, just like mine, are using vouchers to pay for private religious schools who may discriminate on nearly any basis. Our taxes are funding religious education for a small percentage of American students and the majority of vouchers go to families who already have their children in private schools.

School choice is a scam.

A screenshot from the Department of Education’s Facebook account. 1/25/25

Book bans are not a hoax — they did not originate in the Biden administration and they very much existed during the first Trump presidency.

From July 2023 to June 2024, there were 10,046 instances of book bans in 220 public school districts across 29 states. The states with the most book bans are red states including: Florida, Iowa, Texas, Missouri, and Utah. But, I bet you already knew that.

The St. Joseph School District, just south of me, has had several instances of book challenges. A local church had members in their community submit paperwork to ban books like “The Bluest Eye” and “Looking for Alaska” and the children’s storybook, “Tango Makes Three.” In all, ten books were challenged and set to be banned from SJSD school libraries. Ultimately, the School Board chose to let the books stay on the shelves.

This was not a hoax. I know a few SJSD board members and I saw the reporting with my own eyes. I read through posts of the folks trying to get the books banned. I read the local newspaper to keep up with the year-long fight. Book bans and challenges are real.

“The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command.” ~George Orwell, 1984

I haven’t even mentioned the Department of Education’s new Secretary, WWE Queen, and Trump loyalist, Linda McMahon — a massive proponent of “school choice.” I don’t mention her because she doesn’t really matter. She will do exactly as she is told. She has little experience in schools. She has never been a teacher. She has never been an administrator. She served on a School Board for a time.

The new Secretary is an entertainer like her President— she also plans to gut public education and that is exactly why she was chosen for the position.

I was a teacher for 16 years. My husband is a teacher. My son is a teacher — his girlfriend is a teacher. My sister-in-law is a teacher.

I know teaching and I know education and I know what the Trump administration intends to do to schools across America.

Orwell’s novel could not have been more prescient.

Stand against the current Orwellian department by getting involved with your local School Board. Call your Representatives and State Senators and Governor — tell them to stand against the harmful policies coming down from the top and that public funds belong in public schools.

~Jess

I will be a Keynote speaker at two upcoming public school events and would love to see you if you can make either.

Save our Schools Arizona: Saturday, March 29, 2025 | 5:30-9:00pm
Madison Center for the Arts. Phoenix, AZ.

The Network for Public Education Nation Conference: April 5-6, Hyatt Regency Columbus • 350 North High Street, Columbus, OH

I will be speaking on rural progressive strategies at these upcoming events:

The Boone County Chili Supper: February 20, 2024, Columbia Elks Lodge, 4747 Elk Park Drive, Columbia, MO.

The Cass County, Nebraska Rural Victory Dinner: March 14th, 2025 Slattery Vintage Estates, 8925 Adams St, Nehawka, NE.