Who Is The New Secretary of Education?
Betsy DeVos has been officially confirmed as President Donald Trump's Secretary of Education, as of February 2, 2017. DeVos is 58 years of age. She is a Republican from Michigan. She and her husband, Richard DeVos Jr. are co-founders of a Michigan charter school, West Michigan Aviation Academy. The school puts education first and aviation second, set after the DeVos' love for aviation. W.M.A.A. is located in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
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Mrs. DeVos has the mindset of school choice, meaning that she believes that parents should be able to choose where they want their child/children should be educated. Betsy does not believe that placement by zip code is always best for certain students and the level of education they receive.
What is the Secretary of Education?
Secretary of Education was added as a part of the president's cabinet under President Carter, in 1979. The first position holder was Democrat, Shirley Hufstedler. The whole idea of the position is to have a federal influence over education policy. The Secretary of Education also heads the U.S. Department of Education. They are advised by the National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity.
Discussion/worries
Now there is a lot of debate surrounding President Trump's pick of Mrs. DeVos. Many beforehand were wanting to boycott, protest and even call for a new nominee. Many that do not want to watch debates, questionings and just straight to the point news shows may not know why this fuss. People like Randi Weingarten, the President of the American Federation of Teachers, are arguing that DeVos is not qualified for such a position. "DeVos has no meaningful experience in the classroom or in our schools" - Weingarten. She continued to go on and show her discomfort at the pick that President Trump made, and also made sure to "rope" him into the mess as well, "In nominating DeCos, Trump makes it loud and clear that his education policy will focus on privatizing, defunding and destroying public education in America".
The mass majority of citizens, who oppose this pick, use the fact of her wealth and lifestyle as what may "destruct" her in office. Betsy DeVos married Richard DeVos Jr. who is part of a very wealthy family. Richard DeVos Jr. is the son of a co-founder of Amway and who is worth about $5.1 billion. The DeVos family are proud owners of the Orlando Magic basketball team. Richard DeVos Jr. also ran for governor of Michigan in 2006, only to lose by 14 points to Jennifer Granholm.
The debate also takes place in politics as well, with the likes of Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren. Warren was a strong advocate for wanting DeVos to have no part in becoming Secretary of Education. In a questioning session held before DeVos were to be confirmed as Secratary, Senator Warren, as well as others, had the opportunity to ask some key questions. In that session Warren asked DeVos if she herself had any prior experience in overseeing a program that uses billions and trillions of dollars, DeVos had not. Senator Warren asked if she or any of her children have had to have the use of student loans, or financial aid of any sort, DeVos has not.
The main concern among most is if Secretary DeVos were to implement her idea of choice schooling and begin to weaken public schooling to the point of no return. As a majority, U.S. residents cannot afford private schooling. This is a big scare for the public, a worry in which only time will tell what DeVos plans to do, what she will go through with.
Watch Sen. Warren question DeVos:
Read More:
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2016/11/23/5-th...
