Betsy Devos picked as Secretary of Education

[mbcdefg]

per Associated Press

 

[WanderingWinoZ]

2nd woman on cabinet
from MI
looks like she's got more business experience than eduacation experience??

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Betsy_DeVos
DeVos is Chair of the American Federation for Children (AFC), which describes itself as "a leading national advocacy organization promoting school choice, with a specific focus on advocating for school vouchers and scholarship tax credit programs." It is affiliated with the Alliance for School Choice.[39

[WanderingWinoZ]

oh another rich heir/marriage!

In the 1980s, Betsey married Dick DeVos, an heir to the Amway fortune, who ran its parent company Alticor, from 1993 to 2002 and was the 2006 Republican nominee for Governor of Michigan.[4][41] They have two daughters, a daughter-in-law, and two sons.[42] Their son Rick works for the Windquest Group as a consultant on urban development.[43] They own residences in Grand Rapids and Ada in Michigan;[26] Windsor, a community in Vero Beach, Florida;[44][45] and a home on Lake Macatawa, in Holland, Michigan.[46] They also own a yacht.[

[aurademystere]

Her brother is Erik Prince of Blackwater infamy who also has been mentioned as a potential Sec.Def

[sushi]

I don't know much about her, but when I hear advocates for school choice and charters I just hear white and Christian dog whistles. Am I off base? Is she different?

[downtoearth]

Of course he would. Didn't he say he had the best people? Well she's the best at something. And so interesting that she founded the "All Children Matter" PAC that supports charter schools and tax subsidies for businesses that contribute to charter schools. Do "all" kids matter in charter schools typically?

Charter schools suspend Black and Disabled more
www.google.com/amp/www.theatlantic.com/amp/article/474459/?client=safari

And don't even let some In or toss them out quickly
m.motherjones.com/politics/2016/03/charter-schools-suspend-more-black-students-disabilities-test-scores


BLM calls for end to charter schools and juvenile detention centers
www.google.com/amp/www.theatlantic.com/amp/article/494711/?client=safari

[lahoagie]

From my teaching friends in Michigan: "this is not good".

[katietornado]

The DeVoses are close to the Kochs and just as devious.

Ugh.

"Richard DeVos, co-founder of Amway, the Michigan-based worldwide multi-level marketing empire, had pleaded guilty to a criminal scheme in which he had defrauded the Canadian government of $22 million in customs duties in 1982. DeVos later claimed it had been a misunderstanding, but the record showed the company had engaged in an elaborate, deliberate hoax in an effort to hoodwink Canadian authorities. He and his co-founder, Jay Van Andel, were forced to pay a $20 million fine. The fine didn’t make much of a dent in DeVos’s fortune, which Forbes estimated at $5.7 billion. By 2009, DeVos’s son Dick and daughter-in-law Betsy were major donors on the Koch list and facing a record $5.2 million civil fine of their own for violating Ohio’s campaign-finance laws."

[meganew]

A quick glance at her history tells me she has no background in education whatsoever, is that correct? She's just pro- school choice and charters? Which means pro privatization?

[UMaineTeach]

On the surface, it appears to be run of the mill conservative? Like, cut public school funding and give it to private corporations, but not Jesus walked with the dinosaurs.

I reserve the right to take that statement back as tings develop.

[Velar Fricative]

She's a terrible choice. Perfect for the Trump administration!

[MrsAxilla]

Better or worse than Jerry Falwell, though?

Oh good god that this it's even a question.

[debatethis]

Nov 23, 2016 13:52:21 GMT -5 UMaineTeach said:

On the surface, it appears to be run of the mill conservative? Like, cut public school funding and give it to private corporations, but not Jesus walked with the dinosaurs.

I reserve the right to take that statement back as tings develop.

I am not so optimistic given the DeVos family/Amway link. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amway#Religion They're pretty culty of the MLM Kool-Aid variety.

[Velar Fricative]

Nov 23, 2016 13:56:09 GMT -5 MrsAxilla said:

Better or worse than Jerry Falwell, though?

Oh good god that this it's even a question.

I can't remember who said this and in which thread the other day, but someone did say this seems to be Trump's MO - have the name of someone who would be the worst person ever in the role leaked so that the actual person chosen doesn't seem so bad, even when they really are bad.

[cville]

Nov 23, 2016 13:56:09 GMT -5 MrsAxilla said:

Better or worse than Jerry Falwell, though?

Oh good god that this it's even a question.

My god, I have no idea anymore. Slide down a razorblade or go swimming in a pool of spit?

[MrsAxilla]

Nov 23, 2016 14:03:53 GMT -5 cville said:

Nov 23, 2016 13:56:09 GMT -5 MrsAxilla said:

Better or worse than Jerry Falwell, though?

Oh good god that this it's even a question.

My god, I have no idea anymore. Slide down a razorblade or go swimming in a pool of spit?

Drawn and quartered or burnt at the stake?

[was5]

Here are some articles on what Michigan school of choice and charters have led to

bridgemi.com/2016/09/school-choice-michigans-new-white-flight/

bridgemi.com/2016/09/school-choice-producing-segregation-in-districts-across-the-state/

[katfco]

So much for improving education in our country. How much do you think her policies will help my immigrant and minority students?

[was5]

www.clickondetroit.com/news/politics/betsy-devos-picked-for-trumps-education-secretary

The National Education Association, the largest labor union in the US, was quick to slam Trump's pick, arguing that DeVos has "done more to undermine public education than support students" and accusing her of pushing "a corporate agenda."

"She has lobbied for failed schemes, like vouchers --- which take away funding and local control from our public schools --- to fund private schools at taxpayers' expense. These schemes do nothing to help our most-vulnerable students while they ignore or exacerbate glaring opportunity gaps. She has consistently pushed a corporate agenda to privatize, de-professionalize and impose cookie-cutter solutions to public education," the labor union representing teachers and school administrators said in a statement. "By nominating Betsy DeVos, the Trump administration has demonstrated just how out of touch it is with what works best for students, parents, educators and communities."

[sushi]

From wiki

A visit to the Potter's House Christian School in Grand Rapids had played a role, because the parents "were doing everything in their power to have their kids in an environment that was safe, where they were learning, and where the atmosphere was just electric with curiosity, with love for one another."

Their mission statement talks about christ-centered education. By all means, send your child there if that's your preference. They seem to have scholarships and a somewhat diverse community. Good for them. I mean that. (Is it too much to hope that they teach real science? Probably)

But that is absolutely a school that should not be supported with taxpayer money. This is not the first church/state separation red flag coming out of commander in cheeto

[timorousbeastie]

Nov 23, 2016 13:52:21 GMT -5 UMaineTeach said:

On the surface, it appears to be run of the mill conservative? Like, cut public school funding and give it to private corporations, but not Jesus walked with the dinosaurs.

I reserve the right to take that statement back as tings develop.

She and her husband are the reason the Van Andel research institute in Grand Rapids has a complete ban on anything remotely related to embryonic stem cell research, to the point of not even allowing collaborations with labs at other universities that do ESC work. (Sorry, no references, but the DeVos family thoughts on ESCs are well known among Michigan area scientists) Definitely a very conservative Christian (but I can't say anything about her thoughts on Jesus riding on the back of a brontosaurus).

She may be better than Falwell, but I wouldn't hold much hope for her not having her faith influence her policy ideas. 

[tessalb]

[eclaires]

Yeah my MI friends say she sucks.

On a selfish note I am mildly amused because all of the people in our school are rabidly anti school choice/vouchers because it takes funding away from our school that already has low funding. Of course most of them voted for him too. Makes sense!!

I'm at the point where I have to laugh and be petty so I don't cry.

[cville]

Nov 23, 2016 14:24:59 GMT -5 timorousbeastie said:

Nov 23, 2016 13:52:21 GMT -5 UMaineTeach said:

On the surface, it appears to be run of the mill conservative? Like, cut public school funding and give it to private corporations, but not Jesus walked with the dinosaurs.

I reserve the right to take that statement back as tings develop.

She and her husband are the reason the Van Andel research institute in Grand Rapids has a complete ban on anything remotely related to embryonic stem cell research, to the point of not even allowing collaborations with labs at other universities that do ESC work. (Sorry, no references, but the DeVos family thoughts on ESCs are well known among Michigan area scientists) Definitely a very conservative Christian (but I can't say anything about her thoughts on Jesus riding on the back of a brontosaurus).

She may be better than Falwell, but I wouldn't hold much hope for her not having her faith influence her policy ideas. 

Well, if she's willing to foist Christianity into a lab, surely she's going to foist it into public schools.

[pantsparty]

Yeah. This is not good.

www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/2014/06/22/michigan-spends-1b-on-charter-schools-but-fails-to-hold/77155074/

[anonymous]

Nov 23, 2016 14:24:59 GMT -5 timorousbeastie said:

Nov 23, 2016 13:52:21 GMT -5 UMaineTeach said:

On the surface, it appears to be run of the mill conservative? Like, cut public school funding and give it to private corporations, but not Jesus walked with the dinosaurs.

I reserve the right to take that statement back as tings develop.

She and her husband are the reason the Van Andel research institute in Grand Rapids has a complete ban on anything remotely related to embryonic stem cell research, to the point of not even allowing collaborations with labs at other universities that do ESC work. (Sorry, no references, but the DeVos family thoughts on ESCs are well known among Michigan area scientists) Definitely a very conservative Christian (but I can't say anything about her thoughts on Jesus riding on the back of a brontosaurus).

She may be better than Falwell, but I wouldn't hold much hope for her not having her faith influence her policy ideas. 

We've been told Marsha Blackburn has significant influence in his cabinet. This fact and pick would support that

[FloFTW]

This is the beginning of the end of public schools.

[WanderingWinoZ]

Related-

Secretary Calls for an End to Racist Corporal Punishment in Schools
www.slate.com/blogs/xx_factor/2016/11/23/u_s_education_secretary_calls_for_an_end_to_racist_corporal_punishment_in.html


I didn't evne realize some school still used corporal punishment!

Corporal punishment was used on more than 110,000 students during the 2013-2014 academic year, according to the Department of Education’s Civil Rights Data Collection.

[was5]

I asked by FB friend who is also on our school board what her thoughts were about this pick. Her response "DeVos family does not support public education. She is described as a school-choice advocate, but her true cause is the advancement of charter schools. This is not good news for our school district".

Background, we are a small district, 1 high school, 1 middle school and 2 elementary schools. Our school district is generally thought to be below average by many outsiders and some who live in the school district, so, we are a target for charter schools and school of choice advertising. Our previous superintendent retired earlier than expected in 2014 and was later sued by the school district because he used our district's time and resources to do work for his own private company that managed charter schools. Some kids who were enrolled in our district even got letters in the fall of 2015 saying they were enrolled in a certain charter school and when to report for the first day of school. Many thought this was a ploy to confuse people and get them to enroll there. So, charter schools leave a sour taste around here.

[hopecounts]

Nov 23, 2016 14:11:26 GMT -5 katfco said:

So much for improving education in our country. How much do you think her policies will help my immigrant and minority students?

Or Special Needs students like my daughter.
This will be bad for a lot of kids.