Donald Trump vs. Kamala Harris: Their clashing stances on student loans, teaching sexuality and other education issues

On Tuesday night, September 9, a clash of titans unfolded as former US President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris squared off in their inaugural presidential debate, hosted by ABC News in Philadelphia. For 90 minutes, they debated various topics, including economic issues, trade wars, and abortion rights. Although there was no specific focus on the education sector, Donald Trump did bring up the issue of student loans, discussing the Supreme Court's rejection of Biden’s loan forgiveness plan. Let's take a look at where Trump and Harris stand on several key points regarding the education sector in the US.

Waiving off Student Loans

The rising cost of college education and the resulting surge in student loan debt has become a significant concern in the United States. According to a foreign media report, the cost of college has more than doubled over the past four decades, leading to a 66% increase in student loan debt over the past decade, with the total debt now exceeding $1.74 trillion, as per the Federal Reserve. Notably, the Supreme Court had halted Biden’s student loan forgiveness plan. Now, the big question is: Should the government take action to relieve student debt?

Kamala Harris’s View: Vice President Harris reiterated her commitment, alongside President Biden, to expanding their debt forgiveness policies. She envisions a future where public servants no longer have to ‘struggle with the burden of student-loan debt’. While she did not provide specific details about her plans if elected, she highlighted the Biden administration's three-part plan announced last year, which included forgiveness of up to $20,000 for federal student loan borrowers.

Donald Trump’s View: Former President Trump criticized the Biden administration for what he described as misleading college graduates with promises of student loan cancellation. He praised the Supreme Court for halting Biden’s student loan forgiveness plan, arguing that it would have been "very unfair to millions of people who have paid their debt through hard work."

Teaching About Racial Theory, Sexuality and Gender

Another hotly debated issue in the US education system is the right age for students to be taught about sexuality and gender. According to an international media report, while most teachers, students, and parents agree that discussing racism in schools is important, there is a mixed reaction when it comes to LGBTQ+-related topics. Some teachers believe that discussions on gender identity should not take place in schools, and opinions are divided among teens as well.

Kamala Harris’ View: Vice President Harris has consistently opposed attempts to limit how race is taught in schools, labelling the proponents of such measures as extremists who refuse to "acknowledge our nation’s true and full history." She has also spoken out against bans on books about LGBTQ+ experiences and laws that restrict what teachers can discuss in the classroom.

Donald Trump’s View: Trump has vowed to remove what he calls ‘critical race theory’. Critical race theory is an intellectual and social movement and a loosely organized framework of legal analysis based on the premise that race is not a natural, biologically grounded feature of physically distinct subgroups of human beings but a socially constructed category used to oppress and exploit people of color.

While it comes to teaching about sexuality and gender, Trump seems to be quite conservative. Although he has not specified an age at which students should learn about sexuality or gender, he has pledged to cut federal funding to schools that promote what he refers to as "transgender insanity."

The Transgender Student Debate

Issues surrounding transgender students have long been a point of contention in the US. Last month, the US Supreme Court temporarily blocked a new Biden administration rule aimed at protecting students from discrimination based on gender identity. Additionally, debates persist about which bathrooms transgender students should use and which sports teams they should join.

Kamala Harris’s View: Harris has opposed state laws that deny transgender individuals access to bathrooms that match their gender identity, arguing that such laws amount to gender identity discrimination. The Biden-Harris administration has issued rules prohibiting schools from discriminating against students based on gender identity, although they have not directly addressed the participation of transgender students in sports.

Donald Trump’s View: During his presidency, Trump rolled back protections that allowed transgender students to use school bathrooms aligning with their gender identity. At a 2022 campaign rally, he stated he would "ban men from women’s sports," a clear reference to barring transgender women from competing in women’s sports.

Shutting Down the US Education Department

Another major debate that has been ongoing concerns the US Education Department. Former President Donald Trump advocates for shutting down the department, while Vice President Kamala Harris opposes this move. Many Republicans support local control of education, but Harris and many Democrats argue that this could exacerbate inequities, particularly for marginalized students in some districts.

Donald Trump’s Views: Last month, Trump discussed his plan to dismantle the Department of Education during a one-on-one interview with billionaire Elon Musk. Trump stated, “I want to close up the Department of Education and move education back to the states,” according to international media reports. He and some Republicans argue that education should be managed at the local and state levels, contending that the U.S. Constitution does not provide for a federal role in education.

Kamala Harris’s Views: In her Democratic Convention speech, Harris responded to Trump’s proposal, stating, “We are not going to let him eliminate the Department of Education that funds our public schools,” as reported by international media.



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