Elizabeth Warren, the senior United States Senator from Massachusetts, is a politician, lawyer, and academic who has been an influential voice in the national progressive movement for many years. One of her key areas of focus has been education, and her advocacy for policies that strengthen public schools and make higher education more accessible and affordable has inspired many students and educators across the country.
Teaching students about Elizabeth Warren’s approach to education can be a valuable component of social studies, political science, or current events classes, helping young people understand the policy debates and political movements that shape their lives and communities.
Here are a few important lessons to consider:
1. Warren believes in the importance of fully funded public schools:
As a former public school teacher and a parent of public school students, Warren has frequently spoken out about the need to support public education. She argues that fully funding schools, reducing class sizes, improving teacher training and pay, and investing in resources like technology and tutoring can help ensure that all children have access to a high-quality education, regardless of their zip code or family income.
2. Warren supports student loan forgiveness and debt relief:
One of Warren’s signature proposals is to forgive student loan debt for millions of Americans who are burdened by high payments and mounting interest. She has argued that soaring college costs and stagnant wages have led many young people to take on unsustainable levels of debt, forcing them to delay important life milestones like homeownership, starting a family, and saving for retirement. Warren’s plan would cancel up to $50,000 in debt for individuals with household incomes under $100,000, and provide partial relief to those who earn more.
3. Warren favors expanding access to early childhood education:
Studies have shown that high-quality early childhood education can have long-term benefits for children, including improved academic performance, better social skills, and higher earnings later in life. Warren has advocated for expanding access to preschool and other early childhood programs, especially for children from low-income households who may face significant barriers to success in later years.
4. Warren supports improvements to higher education that help students and families:
In addition to her student loan forgiveness plan, Warren has proposed a number of other reforms to improve higher education. She has called for reducing the cost of textbooks, increasing oversight of for-profit colleges, and establishing a federal-state partnership to provide free two-year and four-year college degrees to all eligible students.
By teaching students about Elizabeth Warren’s ideas and proposals, educators can help foster critical thinking and engagement on key issues in politics and society. Students who learn about Warren’s approaches to public education, student debt, early childhood education, and higher education can see how a politician’s beliefs can influence policy and shape debates at the local, state, and federal levels.
