In a striking conversation on the Breaking Battlegrounds podcast, Daniel Buck, a research fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and director of the Conservative Education Reform Network, didn’t hold back when asked what he would do if handed the reins to American education.
With 54% of U.S. adults unable to read beyond a sixth-grade level and 18% considered functionally illiterate, Buck called the situation a “travesty.” His solution? Begin by eliminating the federal Department of Education altogether.
Buck argues that much of the $26 billion spent annually on teacher professional development is wasted on “crackpots, consultants, and salespeople” peddling the latest fads instead of proven teaching methods. Phonics, rote memorization, and silent reading—what Buck calls “tried and true” techniques—are neglected because they’re not trendy or profitable.
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