Editorial

We're with her

Betsy DeVos, reformer-in-chief

At least when it doesn't involve international matters, ethical questions, possible assaults, insults to American POWs, the Constitution, bereaved parents of war heroes, the backgrounds of certain judges, business conflicts, encouraging war crimes, mocking the disabled, ignorance of government and general misogyny, you gotta admit, watching the early stages of the Trump pre-administration is kinda fun.

Of all his Cabinet picks so far, Betsy DeVos for Education secretary is a home run. A bottom-of-the-ninth, two-out, game-winning homer to deep right. Some of us can't help but stand and cheer.

The most assuring thing about Betsy DeVos' nomination is the reaction by left-leaning educrats, but we repeat ourselves. For example, this tweet from Randi Weingarten, chair of the American Federation of Teachers: "Trump has chosen the most ideological, anti-public ed nominee since the creation of the Dept of Education."

Something tells us when the American Federation of Teachers opposes a nominee, that nominee can't be all bad.

The Huffington Post calls Mrs. DeVos the Secretary of Privatization. The ACLU of Michigan put out a statement of general disapproval. And an education professor at the University of Washington told the Seattle Times that Mrs. DeVos (1) never went to a public school and, (2) never worked as a teacher! How could she possibly be qualified to run the Department of Education if she's never taught a math class?

Here's what we do know about Betsy DeVos:

She apparently learned long ago that public education in this country wasn't getting the job done. She used her considerable resources (that is, her own money) to change things. She became an activist, spending millions to expand voucher programs and promote charter schools in many states across the land.

You see why she's unacceptable to the American Federation of Teachers and its fellow travelers. A lot of teachers at charter schools don't pay union dues. Neither do teachers at private schools, where the vouchers might be used. And teachers' unions know what's in their best interests, which may or may not align with the best interest of the kids. As somebody noted recently, mere students don't pay union dues.

Instead of the American Federation of Teachers, Betsy DeVos founded the American Federation of Children. That outfit has supported candidates who are pro-choice in the matter of education. A few years back, Mrs. DeVos told a magazine that she wanted "all parents, regardless of their ZIP code, [to have] the opportunity to choose the best educational setting for their children."

Which seems admirable enough. Unless you happen to have a young person's education somewhere other than No. 1 on your priority list.

For their part, reformers in education outfits around the country are said to be thrilled with Betsy DeVos at Education (assuming Senate confirmation). She may not be able to turn around this huge battleship on a dime, or in a week, but those who prefer giving students the best education have been a patient lot. And might continue to be for a while yet, as long as progress is clear.

But one of the first things Betsy DeVos could do as Education secretary is to work with Congress to re-authorize the Opportunity Scholarship Program for the kids in Washington, D.C.

Dispatches say that the school district in the nation's capital spends $18,000 a year on each kid but still has one of the worst high school graduation rates in the country. Once upon a time, authorities wanted to grant vouchers to those kids to allow families to pick the best schools available. The current administration, with a nod to its friends in the education bureaucracy, has been against the program, and fighting it at every turn.

A new administration, a new Congress, and a new Education secretary could re-boot the program, and give hope to all those low-income families in D.C. who have been begging for this opportunity again.

As for the rest of the country, Betsy DeVos' nomination very well could turn into great news, too. If she's given time.

Not all Cabinet secretaries need to be reformers. The federal Department of Commerce and the Department of the Interior seem to be reliable enough.

Other departments--Veterans Affairs, Justice, and, yes, the Department of Education--need new blood, new faces, and especially new ideas.

Betsy DeVos is a good start. Somebody give her an office key--fast.

Editorial on 12/02/2016

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