As the United States celebrates National Teacher Appreciation Day, Americans are reminded of the hard work teachers do on a daily basis to educate those who are seeking knowledge. When it comes to politics, it's a clear reminder of the current state of the American education system under Donald Trump.
Trump on Twitter
During the 2016 presidential election, it was clear that the Democratic candidates and Republicans running for office had vastly different visions on how education should work in the country. Republicans have long pushed for a private system, advocating for vouchers to be used to send students to charter schools.
Some conservatives on the far right have even tired to create a system to use taxpayer money to send children to religious schools, most notably Christian education institutions. For liberals and Democrats, they've long championed the pubic school system, fighting back against Republican efforts to cut programs and demonize teacher's unions, while doing their best to invest with increased funding. Following the election of Donald Trump, it was only a matter of time before a major change took place on issue at hand. Right-wing Christian fundamentalist and Republican donor Betsy DeVos was tapped to run the Department of Education, causing instant backlash from liberal critics. In recent months, public school supporters have been speaking out against DeVos, much to the chagrin of the White House.
After Trump decided to highlight National Teacher Appreciation Day with a tweet on May 9, the reaction wasn't what he was hoping for.
It was an honor to welcome the Teachers of the Year to the WH last month. Today, we honor and thank all teachers! #NationalTeachersDay pic.twitter.com/0gj8TIRa5y
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 9, 2017
Taking to Twitter to praise teachers around the country, Donald Trump gave his thoughts.
"It was an honor to welcome the Teachers of the Year to the WH last month. Today, we honor and thank all teachers!" Trump tweeted, while using the hashtag "#NationalTeachersDay."
Twitter reacts
Responding to Donald Trump's Twitter message about teachers, social media users didn't hold back their thoughts. "I'm not sure they were nearly as honored, considering who you put in charge of education," writer Jules Suzdaltsev tweeted out.
@realDonaldTrump They'll be lucky to keep their jobs and curricula, while you continue dumbing down the American population.
— Jules Suzdaltsev (@jules_su) May 9, 2017
@realDonaldTrump Trump's "America First" budget wanted to put teachers/students last. Proposed 13% Edu Dept cut amounting to $9B.
— Adam Best (@adamcbest) May 9, 2017
@realDonaldTrump For example: "Betsy DeVos is not qualified, and even more than unqualified, Betsy DeVos is an actual danger to students..." - NEA President
— Nick Jack Pappas (@Pappiness) May 9, 2017
"Just like you honored teachers by making the disaster that is Betsy DeVos US Secretary of Education?" filmmaker Adam Best wrote on Twitter, before adding in a follow-up tweet, "Trump's "America First" budget wanted to put teachers/students last.
Proposed 13% Edu Dept cut amounting to $9B." "Yet the person you've put in charge of the education system doesn't know her arse from her elbow, educationally speaking. Also: money talks." writer Mike P. Williams pointed out.
@realDonaldTrump To bad your teachers didn't teach you about the civil war.
— Brandon Neely (@BrandonTXNeely) May 9, 2017
@realDonaldTrump I'm convinced none of them can stand you, let alone muster an ounce of respect for you. Understandable.
— Mike P Williams (@Mike_P_Williams) May 9, 2017
"You should ask if any of them can teach you how to read," comedy writer Nick Jack Pappas tweeted out to Donald Trump. "To bad your teachers didn't teach you about the civil war," Brandon Neely added, in reference to Trumps' recent blunder about Andrew Jackson and the Civil War. The negative response only continued following Trump's tweet, as it was made clear that many Americans don't agree with the president's plan on education.
