As a former high school teacher and adjunct political science instructor with over two decades in the trenches of American education, as well as a former candidate for my local school board, I have witnessed the erosion of education in our schools.
McMahon’s holistic approach recognizes that discipline is the foundation upon which all else builds.
From lower math, English, and history scores, to the rise of policies that prioritize feelings over accountability, the state of public education has often felt like a free-for-all. That’s why Americans should applaud U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon’s recent bold initiatives.
For starters, this week she announced the “American 250 Civics Education Coalition Initiative” aimed at renewing patriotism and strengthening civic knowledge in schools nationwide. This is in direct response to students’ poor performance on history and government exams. The coalition partners with over forty organizations, including the America First Policy Institute and Turning Point USA, are set to address the civic education crisis and prepare our youth for the nation’s 250th anniversary next year. Their activities include a 50-state tour, American history competitions for students, K-12 teacher summits, and college lectures by local leaders and members of Congress to educate and mobilize young Americans toward informed citizenship.
In addition, McMahon is poised to distribute “toolkits” to school districts nationwide, addressing critical challenges such as reading proficiency and the implementation of effective classroom discipline.
Despite the prevalent belief that the U.S. Department of Education will be imminently shutting down, the White House has clarified that the intention is to make the Department “much smaller” to continue its functions related to student loans and Pell grants. McMahon is also leveraging the agency to disseminate best practices across the country through these types of toolkits, which serve as recommendations rather than mandates.
These guidelines will urge schools to prioritize phonics-based reading instruction and crack down on the lax disciplinary practices that have turned too many classrooms into battlegrounds.
McMahon, the former CEO of World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), advocates for a zero-tolerance policy regarding violent behavior, enabling teachers to quickly remove disruptive students and implement consequences that discourage future infractions. This toolkit represents a significant shift in federal education focus, prioritizing behavior-based accountability over ideology-driven leniency. Its purpose is to equip teachers and principals with recommendations to effectively manage and reduce disruptive behavior within the classroom.
In my years teaching U.S. history and government, I know how the absence of firm boundaries undermines everything. A student hurling insults or starting fights isn’t just a distraction; it derails lessons for everyone. Yet, under the guise of “equity,” progressives pushed restorative justice policies that turned schools into therapy sessions rather than places of learning.
Restorative justice, with its endless circles of dialogue and minimal punishments, is a political farce masquerading as compassion. Championed by left-wing ideologues and Democratic-led districts, it assumes that talking it out with bullies will magically foster harmony. In reality, it emboldens bad actors, leaving victims — often the quiet, rule-following kids — feeling unsafe and unheard. McMahon, drawing from her WWE days where structure and spectacle coexist under strict rules gets it instinctively.
Her recommendations call for federal incentives to states that adopt clear disciplinary codes, including suspensions for repeat offenders and support for alternative education programs. This isn’t about being punitive; it’s about fairness. Diligent students deserve an environment where they can thrive, and teachers shouldn’t have to play referee with no backup. McMahon’s holistic approach recognizes that discipline is the foundation upon which all else builds.
Critics on the left will cry foul, accusing her of being “authoritarian” or insensitive to “trauma-informed” needs. But as someone who lectures on political theory from Locke to Madison, I know true authority protects the many from the tyranny of the few.
Secretary McMahon’s initiatives are a breath of fresh air for educators and parents who are weary of failed experiments. From my vantage point after 25-plus years in education, this is the leadership we’ve been waiting for — one that puts students first by ensuring classrooms are places of learning.
If implemented by local school boards, these recommendations could reverse the decline in American education, producing not just smarter kids, but more disciplined and patriotic citizens.
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Bob Capano has been an adjunct political science professor for over two decades and has worked in senior-level positions for Democrat and Republican elected officials in New York. Follow him on X: @bobcapano