270 Reasons: Because She Won’t Eliminate the Department of Education

Our friends at 270 Reasons are gathering a polyphonic orchestra of brilliant writers, teachers, doctors, filmmakers, artists, and citizens of all kinds to weigh in about their plans to vote this November. These opinion essays run the gamut from advocacy for basic human rights to acutely personal mini-manifestoes. Read the rest over at 270 Reasons.

Because She Won’t Eliminate the Department of Education

I’m the kind of woman JD Vance finds doubly disturbing: a childless cat lady who is also a public school teacher. Does he know that, regardless of whether they have their own children or not, teachers refer to their students as “my kids”? After all, we care for them six hours a day, 180 days a year. And even after they leave our classroom, our students continue to be “our kids.”

So whenever I vote, I’m always thinking about “my kids,” and how policies will impact them and their families. I support Kamala Harris because she believes that education is a human right; that kids should be physically and emotionally safe at school; and that all children deserve opportunities to succeed. The Department of Education’s mission is “to promote student achievement… by fostering educational excellence and ensuring equal access.” Not only will Kamala protect that mission, but she’ll also support it by appointing a secretary of education who has experience working in education and believes in equity for all children. (Simply put: not Betsy DeVos.)

By selecting Tim Walz as her running mate, Kamala has shown she values public education. A compassionate teacher-turned-governor, Tim signed universal school lunches for all Minnesota students into law. He’s pro-union. And he taught high school which, next to teaching middle school, has got to be one of the toughest jobs around. Tim’s the kind of person I’d want to have as my school principal. I’d be thrilled to have him as the next vice president.

I will proudly vote for Kamala Harris as the next president of the United States of America. Not just for “my kids,” but for all our kids.

Jen de Oliveira is a former elementary school teacher who now creates comics for kids.

Read more essays (with new ones added every day) at 270reasons.com.

The arguments here represent the opinion of the authors and not necessarily those of the McSweeney’s Literary Arts Fund.