As President Trump continues his various appointments to offices, numerous positions are currently being chosen for the new administration. Regardless of political views or beliefs, the trend of nominees shows a increasing number of wealthier elite taking up office, many of whom lack the necessary political experience to run their respective positions. Most notable of them all is Trump’s nomination for Secretary of Education, billionaire Betsy DeVos.
As a student, I have to voice my views on Devos’ nomination. She is unfit for the position of Secretary of Education for too many reasons.
DeVos has zero professional experience with public education. Instead, she supports the expansion of charter schools and taxpayer-funded vouchers for private and religious schools, claiming that it offers students with more options. However this unregulated expansion will effectively harm public schools and their ability to serve children who need them. Moreover, she has never attended public school herself, and has never held a position as a public servant as well.
Her positions on major topics including but not limited to performance standards largely are uncertain and not established. During her confirmation hearing, DeVos showed she did not understand the differences between the importance of achieving growth (progressing individually as a student) versus that of achieving proficiency (reaching a certain standardized benchmark). Her inability to be aware of such an important subject when it comes to the education of students across the country shows that she is not prepared for the requirements of the job she was nominated to accept.
DeVos has no experience with higher education. When questioned by Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, DeVos revealed that she has in no way, shape or form dealt with student loans of any kind. Not only does she not possess little experience with higher education, but she also lacks the skills needed to run the trillion dollar student loan bank which is key for thousands of students across the nation to obtain higher education.
On the topic of school security, DeVos believes that local legislatures should decide whether or not guns should be permitted on school grounds. Asked by Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut, she stated that her beliefs are because of specific needs, such as the presence of grizzlies; however, the idea that guns are used to protect students for reasons like the bears has been debunked, showing her ignorance and lack of knowledge regarding the topic.
DeVos has also shown in Michigan to support the integration of religion, specifically Christianity, in public school systems. She does not find it necessary to establish a secular public education system, saying that through education reform she wants to “advance God’s kingdom.” Moreover, DeVos is a staunch opponent of LGBTQ rights and in no way will guarantee that there will be work done to establish equality and discourage this bullying still prevalent in the education system.
As a student of the public education system, I find that these actions and beliefs DeVos exhibits are unacceptable in the nation’s future Secretary of Education. Hopefully come Monday in the final confirmation vote, the Senate votes against DeVos, and a nominee that represents the interests of education for all Americans is chosen in her place.