With the second Republican debate happening tonight, I thought it was important to take a look at what these candidates had to say during the first debate because they have some pretty unhinged views about education.

So here's your recap:

Republicans love to use phrases like "school choice" and "education, not indoctrination," when talking about schools. That's because if they were honest about their real plans, no one would vote for them again.

Let me show you what I mean:

"We need education, not indoctrination"

-Gov. Ron DeSantis

Translation: Force our kids to agree with Ron DeSantis. About everything.

DeSantis fought to end "woke indoctrination" in Florida schools, but in reality, he only fought to ban books, make it illegal for teachers to bring up LGBTQ+ issues in any classroom, and create a history curriculum totally detached from reality. With education standards like: "slaves developed skills which, in some instances, could be applied for personal benefit." DeSantis didn't fight against indoctrination in school, he fought to put indoctrination into schools.

This is exactly why the One Country Project was formed, to fight for rural families who know MAGA Republicans are full of BS. Will you join our grassroots movement to educate voters and reconnect rural communities with the Democratic values we're all fighting for?

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Here's another one for you:

"Let's shut down the head of the snake: the Department of Education."

-Vivek Ramaswamy

Translation: End the last great equalizing force in American education.

Our education system is largely funded by property taxes. As a result, rich areas have more money in their schools and poorer areas have less. The Department of Education supports low-income schools, makes sure kids have good teachers and challenging curriculum, and defends our kids' right to learn from DeSantis-style bans and censorship.

But the Department of Education's role doesn't end after kids graduate from high school; it also administers financial aid programs to put college within reach of students who otherwise couldn't afford to go. Extremist Republicans like Ramaswamy are actually calling for an end to equal educational opportunities in the United States.

"The only way we change education in this nation is to break the backs of teachers unions."

-Sen. Tim Scott

This doesn't need a translation. Tim Scott thinks that the 3.2 million public school teachers in the United States should be paid less, work more, and be stripped of the constitutional rights of association, free-speech, and petition. Teachers care deeply for their students. They work long hours and aren't paid what they deserve. That's why in 2022 alone, nearly 10% of teachers nationwide left the profession. Scott's plan attacks teachers' job security and dignity right when we need to be providing much better support.

You can smell bad education policy a mile away, and the GOP presidential candidates reek of bad policy.

Americans deserve quality education regardless of zip code and that's what the One Country Project is fighting for, so kids in rural communities can have the resources and support they need to succeed – and that MAGA extremists in Washington want to take away.

Can we count on you to chip in today and join the movement to fight for education?

Tessa

Founded by former U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND), the One Country Project is dedicated to reopening the dialogue with rural communities, rebuilding trust and respect, and advancing an opportunity agenda for rural Americans. Our mission is to ensure rural America’s priorities and values are heard, understood, well-represented and reflected in policy in Washington.

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