Education Minnesota responds to DeVos confirmation
For more information, contact:
Chris Williams
651-292-4816 (work)
651-247-5539 (cell)
Megan Boldt
651-292-4818 (work)
651-245-9163 (cell)
ST. PAUL, Minn. Feb. 7, 2017 – In the closest confirmation vote in Senate history, 50 U.S. senators plus Vice President Mike Pence on Tuesday confirmed as education secretary Betsy DeVos, a Michigan megadonor with no experience in public education or government administration, but with a long history of using her wealth to support disastrous school policies in her home state of Michigan.
“Mike Pence and 50 U.S. senators should have watched some re-runs of the president’s old game show. When someone shows up with no experience, no background knowledge and a history of working against the team, you’re supposed to say, ‘You’re fired!’ Instead, they hired someone to run the multi-billion-dollar U.S. Department of Education who isn’t qualified to lead a Minnesota school district,” Specht said.
“Millions of people emailed their senators in opposition to Betsy DeVos’ vision for public schools and tens of thousands made phone calls,” Specht said. “We want to thank all the Minnesotans who stood up to defend accessible and accountable public education, and to let them know the educators of Minnesota will be there for you when other American values and institutions are attacked, like a free press, an independent judiciary, open debate in higher education, the separation of church and state, and even the value of scientific facts over ideology. We’re all in this together.”
About Education Minnesota
Education Minnesota is the voice for professional educators and students. Education Minnesota’s members include teachers and education support professionals in Minnesota’s public school districts, faculty members at Minnesota’s community and technical colleges and University of Minnesota campuses in Duluth and Crookston, retired educators and student teachers. Education Minnesota is affiliated with the American Federation of Teachers, National Education Association and AFL-CIO.