Protest marks public school visit by new education secretary

The billionaire philanthropist is best known as a vocal advocate for charter schools and vouchers, which critics see as a way to undermine public education.

Sara Goldrick-Rab, a professor of higher education, said she thinks public universities are intentionally under-funded while tax money goes to for-profit universities. “Now we have to stand together and work to protect what we value-our public schools”. She also took a strong stance against “free tuition” for schools, stating in her confirmation hearings, there is nothing in life that is truly free.

Democratic Senators Maria Cantwell and Patty Murray, both from Washington State, demanded DeVos “provide an immediate and detailed explanation for why the resource website for the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) has disappeared”.

DeVos said she was “really excited to be here today with parents and educators representing traditional public schools, charter public schools, homeschools, private schools, a range of choices”.

Under DeVos, no unions will get their hands on teachers’ paychecks or order strikes whenever they want another pound of flesh.

“We want quality public schools. for all of our children in every zip code in DC”, Davis told the Associated Press ahead of the protest.

Chloe Worth, a senior elementary education and special education double major, echoed Kemp’s sentiments.

“I am personally anxious that she’s going to use a large sum of federal funding for charter schools, which I think will negatively impact public schools. That’s all I have experience in”. She was blocked by protesters last week during her first visit to public school in Washington D.C. “Charter schools aren’t necessarily better than public schools”. However, they operate with freedom from some of the regulations imposed on public schools. Many opposed also argue that taxpayer dollars fund these expensive institutions, yet they are privately run and are only accessible to a small number of students, leaving taxpayers unrepresented. Those with physical disabilities need paraeducators and devices to help mobilize them. They have what I call a “monopoly’s monopoly”.

This notion is one Kemp said she finds especially problematic. With Republicans in control of both the House and Senate, if Bevin were to propose charter schools it would nearly seem inevitable for Kentucky to embrace them.

Legend said that while the concept of school choice sounds good, it is not necessarily an equalizer because even when implemented, the choices that are afforded for kids in rich districts are often superior to the ones offered to kids in poorer areas and the inner cities. It’s completely unfair to award the same amount of money to schools but expect one to not reach the same standards as the other.