By Calvin Pynn, contributor
Students in James Madison University’s College of Education walked out of class Tuesday to protest recent federal policy changes that, they say, could impact the future of U.S. public education.
Local educators, community members and teachers-in-training were among at least 150-200 people who showed up to protest the Trump administration’s potential elimination of the U.S. Department of Education, and the president’s executive order banning diversity, equity, and inclusion – or DEI – programs.
The Associated Press reported that $600 million in federal grants have been eliminated for K-12 education training programs. The walkout also happened just one day after President Donald Trump threatened to cut federal funding for colleges allowing what he called “illegal protests.”
Rebecca McCann, a senior at JMU studying early elementary education, organized the walkout.
“We’re here, education is important, and they’d better recognize it, and they’d better recognize it real quick,” McCann said when asked what message she wanted to send to the federal government.
Although the demonstration had been announced more than a week in advance, McCann was hit with news that, serendipitously, reinforced her motivation to protest. She announced to the crowd that, just moments before the walkout began, she learned that an environmental education job that she had lined up after graduation had been rescinded because of federal spending cuts.
“I lost my job because of this administration’s decisions,” McCann said. “That makes me want to be here today more than anything I could possibly imagine.”
JMU student body president Brielle Lacroix was one of several students who spoke during the event, praising her classmates — particularly education majors — for showing up to protest.
“Every day you show up to teach with kindness in your heart,” Lacroix said. “For every student that walks into your classroom, you’re doing something. Every time you talk with your friends about current events and expand your perspectives, you’re doing something. Every time you take a break to prepare yourself to continue living and continue caring, you’re doing something.”
Chris Hass, an assistant professor at JMU’s Department of Early, Elementary, and Reading Education, also addressed the crowd.
“We have some terrible people in Washington, D.C., who are doing horrific things to our profession, to our communities, to our students,” Hass said. “I want you to let the people in Washington, D.C. know that you are here today speaking up.”
He urged people at the rally to advocate for public education at the federal and state levels of government.
“We have lots of people up in Richmond who are making really important decisions for your classrooms, for your students, for your profession,” Hass said. “And most of them know nothing at all about the needs of our communities and our students right here in our schools.”
Harrisonburg Mayor Deanna Reed and City School Board Vice Chair Tim Howley also spoke during the walkout.
Organizers shared resources for contacting elected officials following the speakers. For the remainder of the event, protesters took to the sidewalk with signs and chanted in support of public school teachers and the Department of Education as vehicles passing by honked in support.
McCann offered some final words for the protesters before they dispersed, stressing the importance of civic engagement.
“Advocate for the communities that you support, and make them feel welcome,” McCann said. “Together we can build an educational system that genuinely serves all students, and equips them for a brighter future. Let’s continue collaborating to ensure that the promise of education is fulfilled for every child.”
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