In a close vote that was settled by none other than Mike Pence, Betsy DeVos was appointed Secretary of Education this week. Her confirmation hearing in January left the country divided, after she struggled to recognize and understand even the most basic topics in education. It was like listening to someone give a book report on something that they had never read. Now that the position is officially hers, it leaves many wondering how it will affect public education. As an education major, I’m concerned and you should be too.
School Funding
In past few years, DeVos has been an advocate for school choice. At first glance, school choice looks like a concept to be in favor of. However, it could set back funding in many public schools. Many of our nation’s schools are already underfunded and are struggling to provide adequate classrooms and resources. While DeVos sat on the board for the American Federation for Children, she spoke out in favor of voucher programs. This type of program would allow students to choose which school they attend, taking their funding with them. This will possibly affect the schools that are the most in need for more funding. Most likely, the families that can afford to move will do so, leaving behind students in poverty.
The students that are unable to or do not wish to leave will be put at an even greater disadvantage. A program such as this may cause greater problems for teachers that work in underfunded schools. Often, teachers may be working with limited availability of even the basic resources; pencils, paper, up to date textbooks, a clean classroom. As a result, it may be harder to provide students with all of the tools necessary to succeed, even with teachers already funding certain items for their classrooms.
As an alternative, funding needs to be reassessed so that we can improve the resources provided to teachers and students, who may in turn be less likely to leave. Providing adequate resources and environments for students is much more effective than tearing apart some of our struggling schools.
Policy
Being able to make educational policies that help move public schools forward is absolutely necessary. To do so would require knowledge of how children develop and what actually works best for providing them with an effective and incredible education. Children learn in so many different ways and many schools have been trying to move away from the stereotypical setting that comes to mind for some. This means focusing more on understanding and growth, and giving students the opportunity to demonstrate this through methods like project based learning.
DeVos attended a private, Christian school before continuing her education at a private, Christian university. She does not have a degree in elementary education, child development, secondary education, or even a masters or doctorate in education. DeVos holds a bachelor’s degree in political science and business administration (ACLU). She has no experience in the public school system or understanding child development and learning. How can she make choices that are focused on our nation’s young minds, rather than her own political agenda, when she does not possess this knowledge?
If policies that are developed in the near future are not centered around these goals, the educational experience of our students may greatly decline. Change in policy combined with school choice may leave teachers with less resources and a restriction on how the classroom is led. For those that are on the cusp of entering the teaching profession, it is our job to continue to strive and fight for what we know students need.
Student Testing
As many know, standardized testing is not the best way to assess a child’s knowledge, nor is it the best way to assess school funding needs. There are many ways to test a student’s understanding and progress in schools. In the education community, it has been stated that measuring a child’s growth (how much they learn and progress) is much better than measuring their proficiency (generally a score that should be met). It is a simple yet important concept and one that DeVos had no understanding of. When asked on her opinion regarding growth versus proficiency, DeVos struggled to answer the question and when she did, she described proficiency as the same concept as growth.
It is extremely important that teachers are measuring the growth of their students, rather than proficiency. Each student comes from a different background, with different tools and levels of understanding. Students may grow exponentially from their starting place, even if they do not meet a proficiency level. If DeVos struggles to understand even this concept, what will testing and standards look like under her control?
School Safety
While school safety was only briefly touched on at DeVos’ confirmation hearing, her input was concerning to say the least. DeVos stated, in the context of a school she had heard of in Wyoming, that guns may be necessary in schools to protect from grizzly bear attacks. Instead of addressing a need for school safety and keeping weapons away from children, DeVos says that there may be a place for guns in or around schools. This statement does not seem promising for the safety guidelines that should be followed in schools.
The Unknown
It’s hard to say what choices DeVos may make in the coming years. The frightening aspect is that she has absolutely no experience in public education, nor does she have extensive financial experience. As Secretary of Education, she will oversee all of the policies, programs and actions taken in regards to education, including higher education and student loans. The changes that could be coming may affect our youngest students all the way to those of us in college now, on our way to entering careers.
Source: “Background on Betsy DeVos from the ACLU of Michigan.” American Civil Liberties Union. ACLU, 2017.
