Last month, the Supreme Court ruled that President Donald Trump could follow through with his executive order to dismantle the Department of Education. This means there will be significant cuts to funding for public education. If this process continues, the impacts will be evident across communities nationwide, particularly in communities of poverty where schools are already underfunded.
In New Orleans, we know all too well that our school system has been segregated by class and race. A whopping 77% of New Orleans public school students receive free or reduced lunch, including me. As a high school student, I worry that the funding cuts will result in an even larger disparity in our local education. Students are our future, and with cuts to education, New Orleans youth, living in poverty or otherwise, will lose their access to their future.
Additionally, these funding cuts will result in the firing of thousands of teachers, leaving them unemployed and their families in financial despair. With the teacher shortage already severe, families are noticing the lack of qualified teachers in our schools. This defunding will deepen and institutionalize the teacher shortage, resulting in an education deficit. Louisiana is currently ranked 32nd in education, and I fear that rating will decrease as our education system loses funding.
I urge you to speak out about this ruling in the newspaper, as it will impact Louisiana heavily. Thousands of Louisianans look to this newspaper for critical information in all areas. Members of our community must be educated on this issue so that they can know how it will affect them and their families.
MATT LUX
New Orleans