![“[Building nerf blasters] became this outlet of creativity for me that hasn't been matched by anything else. The process [of] making a build complete to your desire is such a painstakingly difficult process, but I've had to learn from [the skills needed from] soldering to proper painting. There's so many different options for everything, if you think about it, it exists. The best part is [that] if it doesn't exist, you can build it yourself," Ishaan Parate said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/DSC_8149-900x604.jpg)
![“When I came into high school, I was ready to be a follower. But DECA was a game changer for me. It helped me overcome my fear of public speaking, and it's played such a major role in who I've become today. To be able to successfully lead a chapter of 150 students, an officer team and be one of the upperclassmen I once really admired is something I'm [really] proud of,” Anvitha Tummala ('21) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Screen-Shot-2021-07-25-at-9.50.05-AM-900x594.png)
![“I think getting up in the morning and having a sense of purpose [is exciting]. I think without a certain amount of drive, life is kind of obsolete and mundane, and I think having that every single day is what makes each day unique and kind of makes life exciting,” Neymika Jain (12) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Screen-Shot-2017-06-03-at-4.54.16-PM.png)
![“My slogan is ‘slow feet, don’t eat, and I’m hungry.’ You need to run fast to get where you are–you aren't going to get those championships if you aren't fast,” Angel Cervantes (12) said. “I want to do well in school on my tests and in track and win championships for my team. I live by that, [and] I can do that anywhere: in the classroom or on the field.”](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/DSC5146-900x601.jpg)
![“[Volleyball has] taught me how to fall correctly, and another thing it taught is that you don’t have to be the best at something to be good at it. If you just hit the ball in a smart way, then it still scores points and you’re good at it. You could be a background player and still make a much bigger impact on the team than you would think,” Anya Gert (’20) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/AnnaGert_JinTuan_HoHPhotoEdited-600x900.jpeg)
![“I'm not nearly there yet, but [my confidence has] definitely been getting better since I was pretty shy and timid coming into Harker my freshman year. I know that there's a lot of people that are really confident in what they do, and I really admire them. Everyone's so driven and that has really pushed me to kind of try to find my own place in high school and be more confident,” Alyssa Huang (’20) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/AlyssaHuang_EmilyChen_HoHPhoto-900x749.jpeg)
President Donald Trump signed an executive order to dismantle the Department of Education on Thursday. Although Trump can’t lawfully dismantle a federal agency without first going through Congress, he has already undermined the Department of Education’s authority and funding. The federal department provides funding for individual state education programs, like our own Santa Clara County.
“[The Santa Clara Board of Education is] a social safety net for our students, so we provide business services, teacher training and instructional support programs to support our schools,” Santa Clara County Board of Education member Tara Sreekrishnan said. “If funding for county offices is cut, it’s our students who are the most vulnerable.”
For decades, debate over shaping America’s schools, from the extent of federal involvement to curriculum planning, has permeated politics. Republicans like South Carolina Senator Tim Scott have led a charge against federal involvement in schools, citing concepts like critical race theory and gender inclusivity as inappropriate. Following the inauguration, Trump signed an executive order “Ending Radical Indoctrination in K-12 Schooling” to eliminate any “radical, anti-American ideologies…[that] erode critical thinking [and] undermine the very foundations of personal identity.”
Groups like Moms for Liberty, recognized in Trump’s signing remarks, have risen to prominence since the COVID-19 pandemic as spokespeople for fears on educational programs and unions having undue influence on their children’s ideologies.
“The idea is that local people know their business better than the federal government,” history teacher James Tate said. “This has been a recurring theme throughout US history, where the federal government wants to set standards based in Washington, DC, and they might not know what the situation is like elsewhere.”
Trump’s most recent signing to dismantle the Department of Education follows a bevy of layoffs and budget cuts in other parts of the federal government. Civic Discourse Club president Jaqueline Huang notes the ideological debate behind these rapid funding fluctuations.
“He is trying to improve the efficiency of the government, which is something that people from both sides of the political spectrum have called for for a long time,” Jaqueline said. “However, another way you could look at it is that Trump is dismantling a very important and influential service to the American citizens.”
In the signing order, the Trump administration claimed that “critical programs” like Pell grants, student loans and Title I services would remain but be greatly reduced. Title I seeks to “close educational achievement gaps” by providing federal funding, such as for accessibility aid or for children from low-income families.
“Despite the sound of the title, it’s not as integral to the education of the nation as it might seem,” Tate said. “However, the federal government is ensuring that schools are performing well and that certain people, especially marginalized people, can have access to education, so leaving that entirely up to the state is not the best idea.”
With Trump’s actions against education already coming into effect, local offices prepare for the future anxiously.
“It’s been a challenge for local school districts, so we’ve been on edge to see what’s coming,” said Sreekrishnan. “That’s what’s been on the top of our minds.”
