If you’ve been watching or reading the news lately then you know that Betsy DeVos’ nomination for education secretary was confirmed by the Senate yesterday. Many are arguing that the U.S. Senate Republicans just voted for the most unqualified Education Secretary in our history and they’re absolutely correct. We’ve also just inaugurated the most unqualified president in U.S. history so should we be surprised?
It’s no secret that the education system has issues, many of which have been ongoing for years. What nomination were we expecting? Do people want someone with years of experience in doing education the wrong way or is it about time to get rid of what we’re used to and get uncomfortable? If you chose the latter, you’re more than likely a Betsy DeVos supporter right about now.
According to her own website, Betsy is “a proven leader, an innovator, a disruptor and an advocate. In education, in business and in politics, Betsy has been a pioneer in fighting to remove barriers, to enact change and to create environments where people have the opportunity to thrive.”
Sounds good, right? But then again most people would advertise their best selves on their own websites. Folks are upset but the bottom line is simple. Was she a “qualified” candidate? Uh, no. But was Donald Trump qualified (in a traditional sense) to become president? Double no. So why would people expect him to nominate the best of the best or even know a person with expertise in education? Republicans are attempting to disrupt the system that has been in place under democratic rule and that is exactly what this DeVos appointment will do.
As a public school teacher, I am in the trenches every single day. From the battling with behavior issues to the constant testing and teaching to the test requirements. It’s bad. Like really bad. But I also realize that there are some teachers with fewer concerns than I because of the type of students they teach and there are some with way more. It’s the way the education cookie crumbles.
I must admit that I was shocked and saddened to see DeVos’ lack of experience and knowledge when I watched Senator Elizabeth Warren question her in this video before she was confirmed. I joked (but I was actually quite serious) that she inspired me to apply for any job I wanted whether I met the minimum qualifications or not. But after further review, I’ve somewhat had a change-of-heart. This is because I acknowledge that one person cannot do as much damage as people are anticipating.
Maybe DeVos’ goal is to create tons of charter schools and make a profit from them. Maybe she plans to be innovative in her approach to education and find a way to help the public school students who have been struggling for years finally begin to thrive. I guess we won’t know until she actually does these things but in the meantime, there are actions we can take.
It’s time to realize that if you have children enrolled in a public school, your responsibility as a parent is more than just making sure they get to school every day. Your responsibility also extends beyond making sure they turn in their homework. Earlier this school year, I attended a town hall meeting that my district held and was amazed to see how many parents showed up. There were parents who boasted years of experience as the president of the PTO at their child’s school. I’ve taught at Title I schools for years and had never seen anything like it. These parents voiced concerns and were there to help make decisions that directly impacted their children and communities. Sadly the involvement is not always comparable to the inner city schools that face the most problems. Oftentimes, it’s impossible to get in contact with parents so them showing up at a meeting in the middle of the day is out of the question.
Let’s talk about the real problem…
It’s no secret that more affluent neighborhoods have better public schools. Why is that? Because the parents in these neighborhoods pay their taxes and are more likely to see what’s being done with their money (i.e. joining the PTA and getting involved in what goes on at the schools). More money going to these schools also means better resources. In neighborhoods where not as much money is collected via taxes, schools are more likely to be ill-equipped. Parental involvement at these campuses differs as well. This is where changes need to take place before we turn to political figures for answers.
Parents have so much power but many choose to treat public schools as daycare facilities and relinquish that power. Iff you’re a parent, Betsy DeVos’ confirmation should do more than cause you to write angry social media posts or shake your head in disgust. It should encourage you to become actively involved in your child’s education to ensure their needs are being met. It should encourage you, regardless of your income, to do more to support your child’s education. This may look like you volunteering at their school, helping raise funds for initiatives that will benefit them and their peers, or you simply doing your part at home to not place the responsibility of educating your child(ren) solely on school employees. The sad part about this post is many parents of children in public schools don’t know who Betsy DeVos and won’t vote when it’s time to elect those in power in their communities.
This is why I’m not bothered by Betsy DeVos becoming our Secretary of Education. The system is so flawed that her being in power will not affect many of us. I’m interested in seeing what changes will be made and I’m not fearful of the future of education. Over the years, students have been subjected to so many changes, both good and bad, so what the heck!?! The government will continue to treat students like guinea pigs to test out educational programs in hopes of finding the magic recipe.
I am in hopes that under DeVos’ guidance the Department of Education will find ways to decrease the amount of interest paid on student loans, empower students in low-income communities as much as those in affluent ones, and make computer science a part of the core curriculum because that is what the future needs.
What are your thoughts? Does DeVos’ confirmation mean the death of public school as we know it? If so, is that such a bad thing?
Note: Some of this blog post is taken directly from my upcoming book. I’ll hold off on sharing the title but if this type of content interests you, I encourage you to follow the blog to stay up to date on the book’s summer release.