The Educational Controversy of Betsy DeVos

Recently, President Donald Trump announced his cabinet. As Education Secretary, he chose Betsy DeVos. Some of her ideas are controversial, and others are supportive of schools structured just like JPEC. As part of this process, she was interviewed by Congress. Many consider her answers to such questioning to be a large failure on her part. This idea is mainly held because she didn’t answer the questions asked to her. When asked to promise that she wouldn’t defund or privatize public schools, her response:

“Senator, thanks for that question. I look forward, if confirmed, to working with you to talk about how we address the needs of all parents and all students. And we acknowledge today that not all schools are working for the students that are assigned to them. And I’m hopeful that we can work together to find common ground and ways that we can solve those issues and empower parents to make choices on behalf of their children that are right for them.”

NPR says many are against this position for DeVos “because the billionaire has never taught in, managed, or attended a public school.”

Some Congressmen and women are wholeheartedly for DeVos. They believe that the promotion of school of choice, and removal of public schools, are essential for American youth to diversify and grow in education. Others, however, believe that public schools are very important to education, and that defunding and privatizing them will reduce the education of children, driving them away from school.