To Secure the Golden Age, Trump's Education Agenda Should Balance Virtue with Skill Development
Pairing skills with civic virtue will go a long way towards reversing decline
As America looks toward the future, the nation stands at a crossroads. While technological advances and global competition reshape industries, there’s an urgent need to reevaluate our approach to education. Right now, forty percent of 4th graders are reading below the NAEP’s basic level – meaning they cannot recognize a reason for a character's action implied in a story. President Trump has been a vocal proponent of restoring America's greatness and bringing back manufacturing jobs, but it’s impossible to do so without improving performance. The future of education needs to reinvigorate the next generation with both the skills and virtues required to rebuild America’s industrial backbone and strengthen our civic culture.
For too long, our schools have fallen short in providing basic education–reading, writing, and arithmetic. Now students need to deal with the large-scale devaluation of four-year college degrees and extreme debt burdens on top of nearly 40% of undergraduate students having to take remedial classes in college.
America’s workforce is aging, and we simply aren’t replacing new retirements. The National Electrical Contractors Association released a report saying 30% of electricians are nearing retirement. What’s better – filling that job, or another sociology major?
Linda McMahon, our new Secretary of Education, has consistently advocated for skill development as the key to securing American prosperity. Across the nation, there is a growing recognition that the future of work is not just about college degrees but about equipping young people with hands-on abilities that directly translate into the workforce. Trump’s agenda to bring back manufacturing jobs relies heavily on creating a workforce capable of meeting the needs of the industry. However, without widespread access to skill development programs, that vision will remain unattainable.
That’s not to say that college degrees are worthless. Far from it – but it’s time we recognize that an undergraduate degree is not the pinnacle of success, and in fact, may not be the right path for many students. That’s why public schools, in addition to focusing on basic education, should offer the opportunity for vocational education, like shop classes or technical internships. Many schools have similar programs, but those are the exception and not the rule. We have a widening gap between the demand for technical jobs and the number of people qualified to perform them. Why not give students a real choice?
What America needs is a modern approach to education that balances two crucial elements: civic virtue and skill development. Schools should not only teach young people the technical expertise needed to thrive in industries like manufacturing, construction, and technology, but also imbue them with the sense of pride and responsibility necessary to serve their communities and their country.
However, the point of public schools isn’t just to train a skilled workforce. It also requires the development and cultivation of moral character, which has always been essential in a republic like the United States. A healthy system requires informed, responsible citizens who understand the value of community, the importance of integrity, and the need to contribute to the greater good. Yet, in recent years, many teaching colleges have deviated from this responsibility and caved towards ideological agendas that are at odds with American values.
These two goals – skill development and moral formation – are not mutually exclusive. They should – and do – complement one another. A student who learns to work with their hands in a trade like welding or machining can also develop a deep respect for the work ethic, dedication, and discipline that define these crafts. Such training fosters pride in one's work and the understanding that one’s efforts contribute to something greater — whether it be the manufacturing of vital products or the rebuilding of American infrastructure. When paired with education that instills the values of personal responsibility, respect for one’s country, and a commitment to service, these skills can help lay the foundation for a new American Golden Age.
What’s clear is that Trump’s education agenda must be rooted in a balance of both pragmatic and philosophical goals. It is not enough to simply revive old manufacturing jobs; we must rebuild an education system that cultivates skilled workers who are also virtuous citizens, ready to lead the nation into a prosperous and unified future. This is the way forward — a vision where America’s greatness is measured not just in its economic prowess, but in the strength and character of its people.