![Democratic presidential candidate Vice President Kamala Harris and her running mate, Governor Tim Walz, enjoy music by members of the marching band at Liberty County High School in Hinesville, Georgia, August 28, 2024, as they travel across the state on a two-day campaign bus tour.](https://www.thenation.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/timwalz.jpg)
The Democrats Are Finally Running a Teacher. What Took Them So Long? The Democrats Are Finally Running a Teacher. What Took Them So Long?
After decades of serving as a punching bag for the party’s neoliberals, public schools and the people who work in them are back in fashion.
Sep 3, 2024 / Jennifer C. Berkshire and Jack Schneider
![Governor Tim Walz gets a huge hug from students at Webster Elementary in Minneapolis, after he signed into law a bill that guarantees free school meals for every student in Minnesota's public schools.](https://www.thenation.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/walz-kids-150kb-getty.jpg)
The Harris-Walz Vision for Public Schools The Harris-Walz Vision for Public Schools
Their agenda breaks with decades of Democratic thinking about education.
Aug 28, 2024 / Comment / Jennifer C. Berkshire
![Teacher Tim Walz](https://www.thenation.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Tim-Walz-1.jpg)
How Teaching Shaped Tim Walz’s Politics How Teaching Shaped Tim Walz’s Politics
From classrooms to campaign trails, the vice presidential nominee has continually drawn on his experience as an educator to influence his priorities in office.
Aug 21, 2024 / StudentNation / Owen Dahlkamp
![Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York speaks onstage during the first day of the Democratic National Convention at the United Center on August 19, 2024, in Chicago.](https://www.thenation.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/GettyImages-2167486805.jpg)
Shawn Fain, Raphael Warnock, and AOC Emerge as the Future of the Democratic Party Shawn Fain, Raphael Warnock, and AOC Emerge as the Future of the Democratic Party
The convention in Chicago is both a forum for past fights and a showcase of tomorrow’s stars.
Aug 20, 2024 / Jeet Heer
![Former US president Donald Trump greets US Senator and vice presidential nominee J.D. Vance as they attend their first campaign rally together.](https://www.thenation.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/GettyImages-2162204589-scaled.jpg)
Why JD Vance Is Unpopular and Project 2025 Has Gone Underground Why JD Vance Is Unpopular and Project 2025 Has Gone Underground
The Heritage Foundation’s attempt to produce an intellectual and wonkish Trumpism turns off voters.
Aug 9, 2024 / Jeet Heer
![In 2006, Tim Walz, a former high school teacher, spoke to a Minnesota teachers’ group when campaigning for Congress.](https://www.thenation.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/tim-walz-teachers-gt-img.jpg)
A Former Student Recalls Tim Walz’s Kindness A Former Student Recalls Tim Walz’s Kindness
“I was a C student, better in some classes, worse in others, and he didn’t leave out lesser-performing students.”
Aug 6, 2024 / Joan Walsh
![A student looking for a book in a school library.](https://www.thenation.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/High-School-Library.jpg)
At My High School, the Library Is for Everything but Books At My High School, the Library Is for Everything but Books
The administration has rebranded our library as a communal space for doing almost everything except reading.
Jul 24, 2024 / StudentNation / Jeannine Chiang
![Kids eating school lunch](https://www.thenation.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/NewMexicoschoollunch.jpg)
Thanks to These Activists, in New Mexico Schools There Is Such a Thing as a Free Lunch Thanks to These Activists, in New Mexico Schools There Is Such a Thing as a Free Lunch
Universal free school meals are a popular and effective way to help kids remain engaged in learning and boost local agriculture. Why does it take such a fight to make them policy?...
Jun 26, 2024 / Nora De La Cour
![Why](https://www.thenation.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/BerkshireSchneider-Education_Wars.jpg)
Why "Fund Students, Not Systems" Is a Recipe for Disaster Why "Fund Students, Not Systems" Is a Recipe for Disaster
When the "Race to the Top" becomes winner take all, students are the big losers. And as the stakes grow higher and higher, public education falls further behind.
Jun 18, 2024 / Feature / Jennifer C. Berkshire and Jack Schneider