Leaders from the Southern Christian Coalition are condemning the Trump administration’s efforts to dismantle the Department of Education.
Pastors from across Tennessee are speaking out against President Trump’s decision to eliminate half of the the department’s workforce, saying the action will immensely harm children and schools.
Reverend Matt Steinhauer, interim pastor of St. Andrew Lutheran Church in Franklin and father of an adult son with Down Syndrome, issued the following statement:
“As a Christian pastor and father of 3 children, one of whom is intellectually disabled who attended and graduated from TN public schools, I firmly believe that all children — no matter where they live in the country, the color of their skin, or their ability level — are valuable, and they deserve leaders who will ensure students have everything they need to thrive at school and succeed in the classroom and beyond. This is why I cannot begin to comprehend why President Trump has fired half of the Federal Department of Education.
As the parent of an adult child with Down’s Syndrome, I cannot tell you how detrimental this would have been to our son’s education, and the education of other Intellectually Disabled Students attending public school in Sumner County. It’s thanks to the Federal Department of Education and IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) that we can be sure that students with a wide range of disabilities will receive a high quality education. The IDEA was the plan we, as parents, agreed to with the school administration and teachers. We were always fortunate that our plan was executed as it should be. But some parents were not as fortunate and had to use the support provided through the Department of Education to get their child’s plan on track.
By gutting the Department of Education, students with disabilities will no longer be assured of receiving the free and fair education they have received for decades, and if there are issues with their education, who will they turn to with significantly fewer DoE people to help? So, not only am I opposed to these firings in the Federal Department of Education, but as a parent and pastor, I condemn this decision altogether.”
Tennessee leaders of faith say that the attempt to gut the Department of Education is an affront to Christian values of compassion, justice, and care for the vulnerable.
Pastor Joy Warren, minister of Cumberland Presbyterian in Murfreesboro says in a statement, “I know it’s getting exhausting to keep up with all the ways that President Trump and his administration are trying to harm our communities. But I know without a doubt we absolutely must continue speaking up for those under attack in our communities, including children! The firing of half of the Department of Education is just another way to take resources from our children in order to give tax breaks to his billionaire friends.”
Pastor Warren urged Tennesseans and Christians to take action:
“Will you join us in continuing to contact your elected leaders and tell them that it’s a Biblical call to care for and prioritize children? When we come together, nothing will stand in the way of us providing every child in Tennessee with a quality education in their neighborhood.”
For more information, visit the Southern Christian Coalition website.