The first and potentially only presidential debate between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump, hosted by ABC News, left many viewers questioning why education was conspicuously absent from the conversation. Throughout the evening, Harris and Trump grappled over contentious issues like abortion, immigration, and the economy, but neither delved deeply into the educational challenges that have become so pressing in recent years. Especially in light of how the pandemic has disrupted learning for millions of students and raised urgent concerns about school safety and the affordability of higher education, this omission was glaring. Instead, the candidates’ focus remained on politically charged topics, leaving crucial educational issues on the sidelines.
Focus on Controversial Issues Over Education
During the debate, Harris pressed Trump on abortion rights and sought to highlight his relationships with authoritarian figures on the international stage. Meanwhile, Trump leaned heavily on anti-immigrant rhetoric and mentioned his opposition to certain educational policies without committing to specifics. For instance, Trump refrained from reiterating his controversial promise to eliminate the U.S. Department of Education, a stance that had previously captured significant media attention. He also avoided making unfounded claims about gender surgeries in schools, a topic that had been part of his campaign narrative. On the other hand, Harris did not take the opportunity to discuss her advocacy for LGBTQ students or her stance on making college more affordable.
One of the few mentions of a policy affecting children’s welfare came from Harris, who proposed expanding the child tax credit. She suggested increasing it to $6,000 for children aged one and under, citing the success of the 2021 credits in reducing child poverty, hunger, and housing instability. These improvements are factors that indirectly impact educational outcomes, yet Trump did not engage with this policy proposal. His campaign later indicated that he might consider broadening the credit to benefit all families, but this was not discussed during the debate.
Missed Opportunity to Address Educational Policies
When the debate shifted to economic issues, Trump seized the moment to criticize the Biden administration’s student loan forgiveness efforts, labeling them a catastrophe. His remarks came in response to a question about a potential abortion ban, which he dismissed, arguing that Congress would remain too divided to act on the matter. He linked this division to a broader inability of Harris to enact significant federal protections for abortion rights, drawing a parallel to the challenges faced in implementing student loan forgiveness. However, this brief mention did little to address the broader spectrum of educational issues that many Americans are concerned about.
The debate highlighted a significant gap in discussing direct concerns related to K-12 education and the affordability of higher education. Both candidates overlooked pressing topics, such as the strategies needed to aid students in recovering from pandemic-related disruptions, making schools safer, and preparing students for well-paying jobs in a rapidly changing economy. The lack of substantial dialogue on these issues was a missed opportunity for both Harris and Trump to present their educational visions to the American public.
Implications for Future Debates
The first—and possibly only—presidential debate between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump, moderated by ABC News, left many viewers puzzled over the conspicuous absence of education from the discussion. Throughout the evening, Harris and Trump clashed over hot-button issues like abortion, immigration, and the economy, but neither addressed the significant educational challenges that have emerged in recent years. The omission was particularly glaring given how the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted learning for millions of students, raising urgent concerns about school safety and the affordability of higher education. Instead of discussing these critical topics, the candidates stuck to more politically charged subjects, sidelining crucial educational issues. In a time when education has never been more important, it was striking to see it missing from the debate. The lack of attention to these pressing educational matters left many wondering about the priorities of both candidates moving forward.
