Betsy DeVos, Trump’s Pick for Education Secretary, Won’t Rule Out Defunding Public Schools
by Emma Margolin

Betsy DeVos, President-elect Donald Trump’s pick to lead the Department of Education, faced tough questions on Tuesday from Democratic lawmakers at her charged confirmation hearing.

DeVos refused to promise that she would not privatize or strip funding from the public schools she would oversee if confirmed.

Asked bluntly by Sen. Patty Murray of Washington whether she would commit to keeping funding for public schools intact, DeVos dodged the question.

“I look forward, if confirmed, to working with you to talk about how we address the needs of all parents and all students,” she said.

…………………….

Tuesday’s hearing turned testy before DeVos had even said a word. Virtually every Democratic member of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee repeatedly asked the chairman, Republican Sen. Lamar Alexander of Tennessee, for more time to question the cabinet nominee. But each time Alexander refused, citing a “precedent” of five-minute rounds of questioning for education secretary nominees. Multiple Democratic members said they’d never heard of such a rule.

DeVos has raised numerous concerns for her support of school choice and voucher programs that critics say would pull resources from struggling public schools and stifle diversity. Supporters say such programs would force schools to be competitive, fostering an environment that would create educational innovation as well as offer parents more choices when it comes to their children’s education.

DeVos’ nomination has also been opposed for her family’s ties to anti-LGBT groups and for her lack of experience in public education.

She doesn’t believe in public education.
She doesn’t believe in funding education for children with disabilities.
She’s even said she supports child labor.
CHILD.LABOR.

These people are a nightmare.
The Hunger Games has come to Education.