54 Low-Key Horrifying Photos Of What It's Like To Go To School In The US That Have Me Realllll Concerned About The State Of Education In This Country
Trump has repeatedly indicated plans to close the US Department of Education, which, among other things, provides college grants and money to schools with low-income students, manages financial aid, protects students against discrimination, funds programs for kids with disabilities, and requires schools provide data on student and teacher performance so that they remain at a high level.
While eliminating the Department won't necessarily mean all of these things will go away — individual states and other agencies may take up the mantle — these rights would fall into question. Experts have predicted that it would particularly worsen already dire teacher shortages and disadvantage low-income and disabled students.
Oh, but don't worry — Trump has suggested creating a Cabinet position to oversee education! And we've all seen how well his Cabinet picks have gone thus far. RFK Jr., in particular, poses a massive threat to US Health — which is inextricably tied to education, especially when it comes to vaccine requirements for students.
And all this isn't even getting into what Project 2025 could do to our education system.
This could all cause some massive, massive problems when it comes to US schools, which are already hugely struggling with issues small and large. In case you're curious about what schools in America look like now — and would like to picture them getting even worse — here are some photos to demonstrate.
And before you say, "But all these photos are of schools under Biden," I know. Education is already a massive public crisis in America. Risking funding can only make it worse.
1.Don't worry about the teacher shortage — the teachers we've got are all so great and encouraging!
2.We DEFINITELY shouldn't be encouraging better teachers (and for teachers to attend more schooling) by increasing pay rates.
I'm not trying to shade teachers here, many of whom are overworked and placed with dozens of students. But it all starts from the bottom up — if we provide better education, the teacher pool will be better educated. If we provide more affordable college and graduate school, the teacher pool will be better educated. If we encourage extra schooling beyond that by offering higher-salary roles (more so than we do now) to those who choose graduate school, the teacher pool will be better educated. And more people will be attracted to teaching!
3.Better-educated teachers? Who needs them?
4.In fact, don't worry about the teacher shortage at all. Just have students teach!
5.Welcome to America, where you may just have to pee in your pants.
This may seem like a frivolous issue, but to me, it goes back to bodily autonomy and the trust we place in students. Why are we making students feel like they can't listen to their bodies? Or like they're already criminals?
6.Don't worry; you can just use the bathroom between periods or during lunch! Oh wait...
7.Technology sure is improving education. Sure, students can cheat with ChatGPT, but programs can easily detect that! (This is sarcastic. These programs are notoriously unreliable.)
8.Teachers are always held to the same standard as students — they'd never be allowed to use ChatGPT!
9.There's never any hypocrisy when it comes to teachers!
10.Technology makes teachers' jobs easier by correctly grading homework and tests!
11.Expensive, easily-broken equipment obviously makes learning better!
12.Privacy concerns? Who needs 'em?
13.It's so great that students now have their private browser activity monitored.
14.This is definitely not giving 1984 — which, BTW, will probably be banned.
15.Blocking websites on kids' devices is soooo important! Especially dangerous ones like TedTalk's website.
16.This text pretty perfectly encapsulates going to school in America.
17.America won't ban assault rifles, but they'll keep your kids safe by...not allowing them to have backpacks. Because that makes sense!
18.Or you could always just have the school check each and every bag, which is a great use of time!
19.This is the future conservatives want.
20.As is this.
21.And this.
22.I can't *wait* for kids to only be allowed to read books for class if words are censored out!
23.This will NEVER happen under RFK!
24.When he gets rid of vaccines and deems every health emergency a hoax, we'll all be so much healthier! Kids definitely won't be forced to stay in school sick!
25.If masks ever do make a comeback in schools, I'm certain schools would follow safety guidelines.
26.This is *definitely* enough food for a high school linebacker.
27.This isn't even enough to be considered Girl Dinner.
28.And I'm not even sure this could be considered food.
29.At least the schools above still provide lunch.
30.I bet gender and self-expression will be even more open and free under Trump!
31.Teachers sure are appreciated in today's day and age!
32.And they're never fired for silly reasons.
33.I'm sure glad we don't have overpopulated, underfunded schools.
34.It's so creative and fun that students don't even have chairs to sit in!
35.Teachers don't get fair pay, but they do get a single Kool-Aid pack!
36.Our kids are receiving such a great education.
37.OPEN THE SCHOOLS!!! But maybe not this one.
38.Kids today are learning such accurate geography!
39.They're learning great fitness techniques — and from home, too!
40.Gen Alpha is going to be SO much better off than us.
41.Isn't it so great that teachers have to pay for supplies out of pocket, and hope to receive gifts from the school or parents?
42.Isn't it sooooo great how affordable college is?
43.I love how we really trust our students, y'know?
44.We'd never punish them for silly or meaningless things.
45.I'm so glad we still use lines to punish kids. I'm sure it's effective!
46.I especially think it's great to make 7-year-olds write lines for things their parents are responsible for.
47.Schools have become a microcosm of capitalism, apparently.
48.It's beautiful how we charge students so much just to learn.
49.Ah, Texas. I'm not surprised this is you.
50.In our capitalistic society, we might as well use required education tools to advertise!
51.If anyone was *actually* worried about bathroom comfort and safety, maybe they should tackle something like this instead of completely made-up concerns about trans kids.
52.Arbitrary gender norms definitely aren't screwing with the system!
53.I'm sure glad that schools don't let women show their shoulders. And they're always just as diligent about guys!
54.And finally, I'm SO glad we're keeping politics, graphic photos, misinformation, and propaganda out of our schools!
