When Betsy DeVos was beginning to be considered, there was an immense backlash from teachers' unions, supporters of public education, and teachers themselves. Many feared what a private education supporter could do to the public education system. When she was interviewed by those that would be confirming her for Secretary of Education, she made an absolute fool of herself by not knowing different federal mandates for education and by continually refusing to answer questions; this is embarrassing to those that work hard every single day to make the public school system work. In sitting down with a high school English teacher, it is evident that education needs to make strides; whether or not Ms. DeVos will help or hurt that is still up in the air.

This is what I learned from my sit down with a high school English teacher:

Where were you educated? Where do you teach? What is/are your degree(s) in?

"I received my post-secondary education at West Virginia University. My bachelor's degree is in English and my master's degree is in Secondary English Education."

Why did you want to become a teacher?

"I wanted to become a teacher because I saw first-hand how students were misled to believe that literature and language have no relation to events in the world and the trajectory of their own lives. I wanted to foster a space in which students saw how the tools associated with the study of these two cornerstones of the English classroom could be employed beyond text—how with an understanding of speech, writing and reading, any context can be better analyzed and understood."

Has tolerance in schools increased or decreased?

"I think tolerance has increased as globalization and the advance of technology has increased exposure to a wider variety of people and ideas. For instance, students and teachers alike are more connected than ever to global events and issues of social weight because of the 24-hour news cycle and prevalence of social media—a double-edged sword as the quality and credibility of news has suffered because of its ever-increasing presence. Perhaps this, in effect, limits tolerance as we are now able to filter our own news, thereby increasing the potential of narrowing our spheres of influence."

Do you have any specific feelings regarding Betsy DeVos?

"Her grave lack of experience and limited understanding of the widely-accepted holistic model of student and community concern me greatly. Education is not a business—it does not operate solely by the principles of finance, nor does it occur in a vacuum free from the influences of context. In order to better equip schools of any type, those in positions of leadership must make an effort to see past markers of performance in order to truly understand what tools are needed to help foster equity for all students regardless of socioeconomic or geopolitical factors. Considerations must be made for students for whom quality and solicitous educational opportunities are not a given. Without having spent time in the field working with community leaders, parents, and students themselves, DeVos lacks the foresight and fortitude needed to help draft and enforce effective legislation at the federal level."

Do you believe that Betsy DeVos will adhere to legislation regarding The Separation of Church and State? ADA? IDEA?

"No, simply because she has demonstrated that she does not understand the laws governing education, nor the concepts that guide the need for leadership on the federal level. She is approaching the position with a severe learning curve which, in my opinion, will limit her performance and judgment."

How do you think teachers can instill tolerance in their students in this political climate?

"Through leading by example. Teachers must take a stand in the classroom through active engagement in dialogue concerning marginalized individuals. If students learn that "normal" is an arbitrary term early on in their social education, it is my belief that they will be less likely to seek quantifiers that limit their exposure to engagement with peers. If we teach understanding and the benefits of identifying similarities rather than differences, we are better able to prepare students for thoughtful, meaningful, and open communication in the 'real world'."



Special thanks to Mr. H for allowing me to interview him.