The Dangers for Schools Amid the Trump Gender War

Education Policy #199 | By: Evan Wechman | February 8, 2025

Featured Photo By: iStockPhoto

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The Trump administration has recently begun redefining its view on what it sees as the appropriate options for gender in the education system. The newly released Trump executive order on “Ending Radical Indoctrination in K-12 Schooling” released on January 29 seeks to prohibit federal funding for schools that are teaching gender ideology and critical race theory in the classroom.

This is a follow-up to the president’s executive order on January 20, stating that there are two sexes, male and female, determined at birth and can’t be changed. Further, the concept of “gender identity” has no place in the school system.

These executive orders strip schools from teaching anything other than what is allowed by President Trump. The concept of gender ideology will be a thing of the past if he gets his way.

This will change how education was connected to federal funding under the Biden administration. Biden encouraged the discussion of gender ideology between students and teachers without the fear of losing critical funds.

A key provision of the January 29^th order seeks not only to remove federal funding from schools that do not acquiesce to Trump’s demands but also subject teachers and other school personnel to possible legal action for non-compliance.

The executive order states “The Attorney General shall coordinate with state attorneys general and local district attorneys in their efforts to enforce the law and file appropriate actions against K-12 teachers and school officials who violate the law.”

Analysis

Trump’s latest attempts are dangerous methods to control the actions of both students and teachers.  This is also the beginning of both the Trump cultural and gender identity wars. Such actions will not help today’s students.

If Trump and his yes men want to forbid their children from any discussion of gender identity in their own home, that is their business.

But what Trump seems to miss is that his worldview does not have to dominate the country’s agenda.  This country was built on freedom, which extends to different families and their children.

He is also not showing any concern for the mental health of students struggling with gender identity during a pivotal time in their lives.  By establishing his views for the whole country, he is taking away critical conversations between faculty and students when many of these children need someone to speak with.

Also, since he is showing no concern for students questioning their gender, this will subject them to bullying and potential violence from less sensitive peers.

Trump has zero experience as a teacher or therapist and should leave the safety of our future generation’s mental health in the appropriate hands of educators rather than his.

His threats of legal action against educators who don’t follow his demands are also frightening. Most teachers and other school employees want to help all students, regardless of gender identity, and Trump is preventing that from occurring.  This could have dangerous ramifications as many capable professionals may avoid a career in education.

Trump should stay out of most areas of education and stick to wedge issues like keeping biological men out of women’s sports.

Engagement Resources:

• HRC | Human Rights Campaign  An organization envisioning a world where every member of the LGBTQ+ family has the freedom to live their truth without fear and equal protection under the law.

• Homepage | GLSEN  They work to ensure LGBTQ+ students are able to learn and grow in schools free from harassment.

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