NJEA members throughout the Garden State joined fellow educators across America this morning in a walk-in to protest harmful federal education policies, including the Trump Administration’s planned dismantling of the United States Department of Education.
The protests were designed to raise awareness of educators’ profound concerns and their ongoing dedication to serving every student who walks through the doors of New Jersey's public schools. They involved gathering outside of schools before the workday to protest then walking into the building to carry out the important work of educating New Jersey's 1.4 million public school students.
NJEA president Sean Spiller, who is also the union's endorsed candidate for governor, highlighted the importance of standing up to the damaging policies being promoted by the Trump administration, Elon Musk and Education Secretary Linda McMahon.
“Trump, McMahon and Musk have a twisted perspective on public education,” said Spiller. “They see it as an expense to be slashed without regard to the effect on students, families and communities. From its founding, America has recognized that public education is a critical investment in our shared future. Their shortsighted obsession with cutting costs will have long-term and very costly consequences for our nation. A well-educated nation is a prosperous one and they are working to undermine that at every turn. In New Jersey, we will fight every day for our students and our schools because we have a positive vision of the future that we are confident will triumph over the dark, angry pessimism of the Trump Administration.”
NJEA Vice President Steve Beatty, who joined NJEA members walking in at Auten Road Elementary School in Hillsborough, echoed that sentiment. “Public education is the foundation of our democracy,” said Beatty. “This administration is determined to strangle public schools by cutting off critically needed resources. It is also trying to limit our students’ learning by censoring curriculum. Hiding from the past does not change the past and it does not give us the opportunity to build a better future. We will not stand by while Trump, Musk and McMahon work to tear down our most important democratic institutions, starting with our public schools. I will always stand with students and educators in the fight for strong, well-funded public schools where students can learn the truth while they take their first steps toward achieving the American dream.”
NJEA Secretary-Treasurer Petal Robertson, who walked in with NJEA members at Shepard Elementary School in Old Bridge, criticized the Trump Administration for its cruel targeting of students with the greatest needs. “The United States Department of Education administers vital programs like Title I, which provides additional funding to support to districts with the highest concentrations of poverty, as well as IDEA, which supports the education of students with special needs,” said Robertson. “Dismantling the department threatens that funding. Tiring the staff who oversee those programs will make them less efficient and less likely to reach the students they are intended to support. It's part of a disturbing pattern from this Administration of targeting the most harmful cuts to communities that can least afford to withstand them. We will stand strong with every student in every New Jersey community to prevent and roll back these cruel policies.”