Education secretary pushes trade-skill lessons for elementary students

During a segment on State of the Union Sunday, education secretary Linda McMahon suggested that elementary-age children could start receiving instruction in skilled trades, contending that early aptitude should be nurtured alongside traditional academics. She criticized the long-standing emphasis on four-year college pathways and highlighted plans to offer middle-school students dual-credit community-college courses in trades.

When host Dana Bash questioned the appropriateness of vocational training for young learners, McMahon replied that basic trade lessons, such as carpentry, could coexist with reading and writing skills. She argued that curriculum decisions should reflect community needs and parental involvement, and called for greater state control over education. Critics on social media mocked the proposal, and McMahon faces an impeachment inquiry over alleged attempts to dismantle the Department of Education.