After days and days of protesting for the removal of Betsy DeVos from the nominations of Secretary of Education, all twelve Republican votes have just now cleared DeVos for a full vote on the Senate floor. While votes continue to be counted; parents, students, and teachers across the nation fear for the future of public education in America.
Amongst the list of problematic cabinet nominees, Betsy DeVos shows a prominent danger to our children’s future public education in the United States if she were elected. As being a daughter born into privilege, DeVos shows no experience with public schools, and has not even attended one as a child.
“Along with millions of other parents across the nation, I’d rather stick with our public education system, or “failing government schools” as our President likes to say.”
Not only is her lack of recognizing public schools as an important asset to American children an extreme concern, but also the lack of basic knowledge of civil federal laws is a big red flag for a candidate running for role of Secretary of Education.
For example, during the Senate Confirmation hearing, DeVos was asked a series of basic education questions that she was not able to answer. Senator Tim Kaine, asked DeVos if she thought that schools should be required to meet the requirements of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). When DeVos showed no basis of knowing about this law, she continued to respond with “I think that’s an issue best left to the states.” Which is a mantra she somehow managed to exploit throughout the entire Confirmation hearing.
As shown above, DeVos poses a threat to disabled students by not knowing the basic federal law that protects them in their education. While this creates a big concern for America’s disabled children, one of the biggest plans DeVos is notoriously known for fiercely supporting could affect every child’s education in America.
Betsy DeVos has not been a shy figure in Michigan concerning the education matter. DeVos has proven time after time her utmost support for school vouchers, which is a process that could potentially eliminate public schools in all and replace it with private education.
“While this school voucher plan is directly geared toward low income students, would this actually provide a chance for them to get a better education?”
School vouchers would be a process in which taxpayer money would not be going into public schools anymore, and would instead be funding private schools. While this school voucher plan is directly geared toward low income students, would this actually provide a chance for them to get a better education?
Reviews done in 2015 and in 2016 by the Louisiana Scholarship Program states otherwise. These reviews showed that students who had received vouchers to attend public schools performed dramatically worse on state exams. If the school voucher plan launched, then there would be no definite telling if this drastic change would better or worse our children’s education. Along with millions of other parents across the nation, I’d rather stick with our public education system, or “failing government schools” as our President likes to say.
With Betsy DeVos’ dangerously lack of knowledge in almost everything based education, it’s safe to say that there has been some serious backlash over her nomination. If you or someone you know wish to prevent this from happening, call your state representatives right away. After all, our democracy depends on your voice.
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