Betsy DeVos is a billionaire school reformer in Michigan. She funds charter schools and voucher schools not only in Michigan but across the nation. A few years back, her American Federation for Children gave its annual award to Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker for crushing the unions in his state and to D.C. Chancellor Michelle Rhee for advancing the school-choice views of AFC.
I endorse Betsy DeVos.
[SATIRE ALERT!]
I don’t agree with any of her ideas about school reform, but I think it would be refreshing to hear candid advocacy for privatizing and eliminating public schools instead of privatizers pretending that they want to “improve public schools.” They don’t. The privatization movement should be unmasked as the rightwing, anti-public school movement that it is.
I oppose privatization. I oppose turning public schools over to private corporations. I oppose for-profit schooling. I oppose schools run by for-profit management. I oppose vouchers.
I support community-based, democratically controlled public schools, staffed by certified and well-prepared teachers.
I believe that most parents like their public schools and don’t want them to be privatized. We saw clear evidence of that sentiment in Massachusetts and Georgia, where voters resoundingly rejected efforts to private public funding for public schools.
I endorse DeVos not because I want her ideas to prevail but because I want them exposed to the clear light of day and rejected because they are wrong for democracy, wrong for children, and wrong for education.
Learn more about DeVos here.
It would be refreshing to see privatization in its honest clothes, not disguised as a “civil rights” movement (led by billionaires and Wall Street and hedge funders). Honesty is the best policy.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
Taken together with Peter Greene’s excellent analysis, the Trump coronation has had the effect of smoking out the enemy for everyone to see…to see it for what it is. We need to educate our neighbors now that they’re coming out into the open.
Wait, what? I’ve been following your blog religiously and I’m completely dumbfounded by this entry. You may need to explain your position more persuasively–especially before Donald Trump chooses our next Education Secretary.
Susan, I guess I should let Diane speak first, but you are missing the point. We will not (and have not) get what we need. So now let’s get someone in the office that exposes them for who they are and can’t hide behind the “I’m in the Obama administration” sheep’s clothing.
Susan Sloan,
Please open the post again. I added a few sentences, in addition to saying in the original that I don’t agree with any of her ideas. I forgot that satire is often misunderstood.
Thank heavens! I read this quickly sitting at an airport gate after a day of my son’s medical and about fell off my chair! Sorry for not reading your fine print or appreciating satire today!
I agree. I’ve seen Betsy DeVos up close and personal. I know who runs the Mackinac Center and have tangled with the Great Lakes Education Project, their Michigan-based media outlet. We in Michigan have actually seen the inside of her closets (bigger than the average home in her community). We know who she is.
Upon reflection, I think she could, unwittingly, be a (here it comes) uniter, not a divider–at least for those, like me, who believe the very existence of public education is at stake. At the very least, she would give “Democrats” for Education Reform something to think about.
After hearing from a couple of Diane’s regular readers, perhaps I need to clarify my own comment. Betsy DeVos represents the worst possible goals of ed “reform”: full-blown privatization, vouchers, all-white “Christian” charters. She also has the funds to support these ideas (which, I believe, would be a big factor for Trump). When I say we know her intimately, in Michigan, that’s what I mean.
Lots of Democrats, in loyalty to the current President, overlooked his awful policies and awful leadership picks. With Betsy DeVos at the helm, there might be a clear target, uniting folks, and making the preservation of public education a national goal, uniting us behind that single cause, rather than dividing the discussion into pro/con charters, pro/con CCSS, etc.
She should. DC was ga-ga over charters under Bush and Obama and now they’ll really go off the deep end.
They should stop misleading the public, though. This has nothing whatever to do with the public schools 90% of children attend. They’re completely irrelevant to our schools.
They never valued our schools anyway so they won’t be missed.
Charter mania now gives way to voucher mania in edreformland, with the usual ed reform side dish of demonizing labor unions.
Give up on these people. They’re not interested in public schools. Work to get competent and supportive lawmakers at the state and local level.
Ohio is a disgusting embarrassment. The Dayton Daily News reported on a disagreement between ECOT’s allies and Ohio state Senator Peggy Lehner, who is selectively pro-charter, similar to Sherrod Brown. Lehner is on the Senate’s Education Committee. According to the paper, Lehner attributes a new political website, Third Rail, with the speculation that she plans to join Fordham, which she denies.
Taxpayers, kids and communities. victims of palace intrigue, the effects of which, will be suffered for generations.
I’m not so sure given the fact that Trump got elected even though he was so blatantly in our faces and so obviously a thug. Whomever Trump appoints, he/she will be against the public schools and pro privatization. It’s like 110% of these billionaires are pro charter schools and vouchers. Are George Soros and Warren Buffett pro public schools, please?
60% of voters in Massachusetts and Georgia just told ed reformers they care if schools are governed publicly and yet the echo chamber marches on, completely confident that the public has the same contempt for public schools that ed reformers have.
It’s a closed circle. Arne Duncan will probably give a speech today where he says people “don’t care” if they retain public schools. They all say it. It’s demonstrably not true but who cares? That’s their story and they are sticking to it.
I get the tactic.
Some years ago somebody asked why progressive states favor high taxes for Federal programs . The theory being similar, if not opposite of “starve the beast”. Once those Red states were starved of the funding they can not generate for roads, bridges, schools , and everything else the Federal government distributes in a highly unfair manner . They would change their tune about Government spending and taxes.
http://www.businessinsider.com/the-states-the-most-and-least-dependent-on-the-federal-government-2015-7
Funny thing the map could almost pass for an electoral map . The times had a similar piece this weekend about the effects of the Senate and Electoral college. The rural vs urban divide. It isn’t just the Presidency we are getting screwed on. Time for a tea party revolt on the left.
They want less government perhaps it is time to give it to them . Yes Rick Perry close down all those Departments , an ah and ah .
Stop taking from the makers to give to the takers in Texas. .
Let them cut. Don’t help them cut. God help us, but before they know it, they’ll lose the House, the Senate, the states…
leftcoast
If we give these people what they are asking fort, they are not going to like it .
. I cant wait till granny Trump supporters in Florida here Ryan’s plan to cut their benefits. But truth be told he will make cuts go into effect for future retirees five years down the road. and granny wont care. .
I can’t open the NYtimes article until the end of the month, but I was wondering if relying on proportions leaves out a bit of the story. I’m guessing that most of the states that receive more back than they give also pay much less in taxes i.e. they are poorer. The richer states may not get back anywhere near what they put in but the $$ amounts may still be much greater. I’m not saying it is all fair just maybe not as outrageous as it sounds on the surface. Shouldn’t we be giving more to states that have less? I would also guess those states may tax their residents less in state taxes, but I have no idea whether that just means their residents refuse to pay more or can’t pay more or some combination of the two. In any case it doesn’t negate the fact that if we all pay less in federal tax they will get less as well. I need someone who knows a lot more about this whole issue than I do. I just hope that the amount that a state gets is not skewed too much by how powerful their reps in Congress are.
This from a parent in Camden NJ, she gets it: “My son has been pushed through school. They continue moving him to the next grade, regardless of his academics because the system is trying to get him out of the system,” says Dava. “I’ve spoken at the Board of Education. I’ve spoken to Paymon Rouhanifard (the Christie-appointed superintendent of Camden Public Schools). I’ve asked them where all the money has gone. I see all this money being put into expanding Renaissance schools, but there’s never any money for our public schools. Why are charter school chains a higher funding priority than the education of our children in public schools?”
http://www.bluejersey.com/2016/11/state-run-kids-families-school-the-education-reformers-davas-story/
More from Dava, same link: “Renaissance schools aren’t helping – they’re hurting. The money meant for our public schools is being funneled to Renaissance schools. They’re building new Renaissance schools all over the city. Suddenly Camden has the money to build these new schools, have new books, tablets for all the students, and even air conditioning! My son has to share his books with other students because there isn’t enough money for students in traditional public schools. If there’s homework the teachers have to make photocopies. This isn’t right.”
When asked why she hasn’t enrolled her son in one of Camden’s new Renaissance schools, Dava says, “the charter schools don’t want students like my son.”
People who want to know what’s in store for their public schools out of DC might want to research DeVos’ work in Michigan. She’s a powerful political operative there and she’s won many battles. However- Michigan public schools have paid the price.
The public schools in Michigan are worse than they were 15 years ago.
That’s her record. Very successful wealthy political operative, lousy for public school kids. Get ready. She’ll work as hard as she can to bring down your public schools too.
And also so many people have been taken for a ride with Amway…a rip off company is where their money comes from.
“I endorse Betsy DeVos.”
Maybe the morning tea hasn’t kicked in yet but if that statement isn’t as facetious as it gets. . . .
Facetious to us Duane…but I bet the Trumpsters already have it on Facebook and YouTube as ‘Famous educator, Diane Ravitch, endorses De Vos for Sect. of Ed’
I wouldn’t worry. “I don’t agree with any of her ideas about school reform, but I think it would be refreshing to hear candid advocacy for… eliminating public schools.” A ringing endorsement. I’ll add my own: I, LCT endorse Betsy DeVos. I don’t agree with any of her ideas. I don’t even think she has a good heart. At least she doesn’t pretend to be progressive,and silence those in her way by taping shut their mouths.
I like Diane’s thinking. She says put your money where your mouth is and do your worst.
Honesty is in fact the best policy. It’s what has been missing during my lifetime. I’m sick and tired of Gates calling himself a philanthropist.
I suppose that should have been, put your mouth where your money is.
And the problem with whichever version of the saying one goes with is that it gives those with the most money the biggest mouth. The money is the amplifier, that in a supposedly egalitarian political system as the US of A claims to be, that gives unfair advantage to the few. As Cookie Monster might say “Me no like that”.
I certainly believe in “fidelity to truth” or what old fashioned folks* would call “honesty” in the political realm. Unfortunately, our society has determined that “truthiness”, half baked truths, appeals to the gut/emotion that are less than faithful to truth, less than honest gainsay rationo-logical, honest statements. And that those cock-eyed half truths have been amplified in that supposedly great democratizing engine, the internet and instant communications.
Now, perhaps that is what Diane is hinting at with her “endorsement” and I know what she means: Instead of falsehoods and innuendos about being about civil rights wouldn’t it be nice if the reformistas actually followed a path of “fidelity to truth”. But as we know when money, wealth and fame are the object then homo supposedly sapien will to truth is cast off in the acquisition of the golden goose. Were that the Midas touch be true in reference to those who seek so much off the backs of the most innocent, the school children.
*I contend that many of those “old fashioned” folks both young and old sit out the political process mainly because of the lack of “fidelity to truth”-honesty.
Here’s what I think: The Democrats and Republicans have undone themselves, wooing wealthy contributors. They lost. They brought President Elect Donald J. Trump on themselves. Jon Stewart recently said that. Now it’s time for them to sit back and watch the horror movie they produced and directed.
Let billionaires take ownership of segregation and iniquity. Let the public watch them do it. I think one would have to be blind not to see the inexorable, domestic policy train wreck coming. We can’t stop it from happening. We should not participate. (I’m looking at you, “D”FER.) Let Trump pick a Republican for Secretary of Education. A Republican billionaire, even better.
Honesty is both idealistic and pragmatic.
Thank you, LCT! You got the point. Let the billionaires and Bill Gates and his buddies own the segregation and inequity they are funding.
And Go Bernie. And all his young supporters. And Go John Oliver. And Go Jon Stewart. And Jon Stewart’ mom. And Go Matt Damon. And Matt Damon’s mom. And Go Diane Ravitch. And Charity. And Justice. And honesty. And Truth. And public schools will never go down.
Choice is a recipe for national division and could establish the conditions for a 2nd civil war. We’re already in bubbles; imagine how much more hardened the bubbles would be if none of us ever went to school with the Other. On one side of town, Nazi Youth Academy, specializing in macro-aggressions; on the other Social Justice Academy where the tiniest micro-aggressions are policed. On one side of town, Christianist Academy, featuring triumphalist propaganda about white Christians; on the other side of town, Afro Academy, featuring glorified propaganda about Africans. How will such schools ever knit us together? Or can we leave the knitting together to chance –laissez faire? Simply living side-by-side on the same plot of Earth does not unity create. Look at the Greeks and Turk, who lived side-by-side for 500 years and then, in an instant, had to self-segregate in 1923 lest they slaughter one another.
I would hope that a side benefit of that would be more press attention to the scAmway swindle. That’s where the DeVos fortune comes from.
Good point Nephew…but we must remember that Obama gave us a similar woman to run ed…Mdm. Pritizker, first put on the BoE in Chicago, then appointed to his Cabinet (but not the Cabinet role for ed).
Billionaire women seem to have the edge in being chosen for leadership by either Party, over all the rest of the female population. Money buys power. See also Mdm. Jobs and Mdm. Gates.
To Ellen Lubic:
I guess that you are kind of GAGA. Please acknowledge what Obama administration with Arne Ducan in DoE has cost 2016 Presidential election.
Hopefully, the VIVID truth in Trump and Betsy DeVos in DoE will bring and will unite all GAGA people together for the best fight as in Georgia and Michigan. Back2basic
May…what is GAGA??? Have you been reading my comments here for about the last 4 years? I have always spoken about the failures of Arne Duncan..and of Obama who some time back I speculated was a Manchurian candidate. Are you reprimanding me for telling the truth about Obama’s choices of billionaires to run public education? Or do you agree that they should be the ones to run not only ed, but everything?
May..my friends emailed me that GAGA is to “go along to get along” which is not something I would ever consider, perhaps even to my detriment….so, .now I am really in a quandary. Please explain. Is this a Canadian thing, or what am I missing??
Hi Ellen:
I hope that I did not misunderstand your sentence, as follow:
[start your expression]
“Billionaire women seem to have the edge in being chosen for leadership by either Party, over all the rest of the female population.”
[end expression]
As I understood Dr. Ravitch’s implication in this thread, it is obviously that the equation of Obama’s administration with Arne Duncan will resemble to Trump’s administration with Betsy DeVos. On the top of this, in Georgia, both Republicans and Democrats unite to protect their Public schools.
Hopefully, the truth in political GRAFT is forcefully coming out so that both Republicans and Democrats, who are conscientious, will unite to sustain American Public Education.
Yes, you have provided many important infos and cultivate many readers, including me, in this website.
It seems to me that you miss the reason that Dr. Ravitch defies Trump’s choice in Betsy DeVos who is and will be boldly attack public education by fully support privatization. That is why I said that you become GAGA in the above women leadership. Otherwise, please forgive me if I should use other expression that I do not have enough vocabulary in English. May
I think you misunderstood my comment. I meant only very wealthy women from either party seem chosen by the Prez from either party to serve in the role of education leaders. They seem always to be major donors and use their money mainly against public ed. DeVos is one more example of one who has no ed background, but can buy her way into leadership. The same goes for Pritzker, Jobs, and Gates.
There are several trackers of likely appointees to the Trump Cabinet and major branches of government. This is today’s news.
According to Jason Miller, Trump’s communications director (announced today) the individuals leading the transition domestically are as follows:
Veteran Affairs: Retired Army Brigadier Gen.. Michael Meese, a former senior advisor to Gen. David Petraeus.
Intelligence: Jeff Kahn
Homeland Security: Jim Carafano, the Heritiage Foundation’s vice president and Mike Dougherty, who worked as director of operations for Immigration and Customs Enforcement under President George W. Bush.
Energy: Tom Pyle, president of the American Energy Alliance.
EPA: Myron Ebell, director of global Warming and international environmental policy at the Competitive Enterprise Institute. Ebell is outspoken skeptic of climate change.
Health and Human Services: Andrew Bremberg, a former senior aide to both Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, and Paula Stannard, former acting general counsel of the HHS.
Housing and Human Services: Elliot Berke, managing partner of Berke Farah LLP, and was previously in-house counsel to the Speaker of the House.
Labor: Jane Norris Transportation: Nancy Butler
Education: Jim Manning (see amplification below)
Interior: Doug Domenech, former Secretary of Natural Resources for Virginia.
Agriculture: Joel Leftwich, staff director Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. Source http://dailycaller.com/2016/11/21/trump-holds-another-day-of-non-stop-meetings-at-his-new-york-tower/#ixzz4QfSzZ09h
On Education: James Manning is to be part of the “landing team” at the U.S. Department of Education. Williamson “Bill” Evers is also listed as a transition person for Education on a chart circulated by Politico. See more about the transition team members here: http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/campaign-k-12/2016/11/trump_education_transition_team.html?cmp=RSS-FEED
The person in charge of all of the “Domestic program” transition nominees is Kenneth Blackwell, a senior fellow at the Family Research Council. Blackwell is an ultra rightwing African American from Cincinnati Ohio.
Here is what you may want to know about the thinking of Kenneth Blackwell, who is expected to move into a White House position, along with other key persons on the transition team.
http://www.pressherald.com/2016/11/19/gays-can-be-reformed-just-like-arsonists-trumps-new-domestic-policy-adviser-has-said/
Here is more about Backwell’s connections with the Republican Party and his huge political ambition. http://www.tbo.com/trump-names-gop-maverick-ken-blackwell-a-transition-leader-ap_election3353872c61f04841b75a51c94058adb7
(Kenneth’s wife, Rosa Blackwell is a long time educator. Following the departure of Steven Adamowski in 2002, she became Acting Superintendent of the Cincinnati Public, then Superintendent in 2005, retiring in 2008).
I can see there is a correlation between people who have too much money and people who are insane for power, but I’m not so sure about the causal direction. I suppose it could be a vicious cycle.
Whatever the case, the DeVios Klan belongs to that circle. And you should not think that just because they appear to be out in the open that they will be any less DeVios. Years ago they tried again and again and again to sell the People of Michigan on their bill of not so goods and the voters said No Way to Amway Education every time. But democracy is just a minor speed bump to the true believers in their own godhead and all they learned from that experience is this:
Before You Can Privatize Public Education You Have To Privatize Government First.
And so they did …
Diane, I am devastated that you would endorse Betsy DeVos, tax credits, charters and schools of choice. You truly have not changed from your early days promoting charters. We are witnessing the end of public education and for America’s children and especially those living in poverty and with disabilities, I am devastated.
Marcie,
If you read the post, I said I don’t approve of any of her ideas, but they are Trump’s ideas too.
We should strip away the veil from the “reformer” rhetoric and let people know plainly that Trump wants to eliminate public schools.
I believe there will be enormous resistance to his plans, on a bipartisan basis, as we saw recently in Georgia, where Democrats and Republicans joined to defeat a constitutional amendment allowing the governor to take over and privatize public schools with low test scores.
To remove any misunderstanding, I added a few sentences to the post to make it plain that I do not endorse any of Betsy DeVos’ ideas or goals.
I oppose privatization, via charters and vouchers.
I support public schools, democratically controlled and staffed by certified teachers.
Read it again.
Diane, I just posted an apology for failing to read the entire blog. I am just so devastated by what the next four years will bring for America’s children,
Thanks, Marcie.
I am tired of privatizers pretending to be “reformers” who are leaders of the “civil rights issue of our time.” It was always a mask for privatizing, and now Trump too claims on his website that he is pushing for school choice because he too is a civil rights crusader. Let’s remove the masks and show who is behind the movement to replace public schools with privately managed schools and religious schools: billionaires and right-wingers. Best to know which side you are on.
Diane, I hope that you are right. Looks like we have nothing left to lose, may as well try it.
Mary, the post was parody. I oppose everything the DeVos family supports. They are radical rightwingers and she would get rid of public schools if she can. We have to oppose her at every turn.
Irony much?
Irony and honesty. An interesting combination.
I think that’s a good way to see it, Dr. Ravitch. I agree. Enough veiling and cloaking what has already been happening anyway.
I take no pleasure in saying this, but is it going to take another GOP caused great depression before Americans get wise to what is going on? If Trump and the GOP succeed in all they state they want to do, we will be set up for another financial armageddon. Americans who voted for Trump (except the wealthy) have voted for an incredible amount of suffering and financial dislocation. Will this bring on another FDR? It’s a hell of a way to get a progressive in office.
*Mostly a GOP caused depression with some help from some Democrats. Clinton did sign for the repeal of Glass-Steagall.
Agree Joe…HIstory repeats itself.
Bravo Dr. Ravitch.
Here is from LCT:
“I, LCT endorse Betsy DeVos. I don’t agree with any of her ideas. I don’t even think she has a good heart. At least she doesn’t pretend to be progressive, and silence those in her way by taping shut their mouths.” and “I like Diane’s thinking. She says put your money where your mouth is. Honesty is in fact the best policy.”
In short, I hope that all readers will follow Dr. Ravitch’s endorsement for Betsy DeVos as Secretary of DoE.
That is exactly what President elect has advised to all voters “What do you have to lose?” during his campaign. Back2basic
Diane hit the nail on the head. Expose the for profit agenda of the elitists who masquerade as do gooders…. they know nothing about red Greg action of schools and discrimination against special ed students
Well . . .
I endorse Rhee because she duct tapes kids to chairs.
http://deadspin.com/accused-sexual-abuser-kevin-johnson-meets-with-accused-1789224354?utm_campaign=socialflow_deadspin_twitter&utm_source=deadspin_twitter&utm_medium=socialflow
And the sex and financial scandals are just like a soap opera.
I prefer privatization to have a little drama attached to it and honest captitalism is boring.
Angie, great recommendation!
Best post here, Angie…thanks for the great link.
Also on this linked Deadspin site is this…
“If you tuned in to CNN earlier today, you might have found yourself greeted by a chyron that could have been ripped straight out of a Newt Gingrich Nazi fanfic: Alt-Right Founder Questions If Jews Are People. The real question, of course, is whether our president-elect should distance himself from an explicit group of…”
Worth spending some moments shopping the site for more news….thanks Angie.
In case anyone missed this which is all over the news…..from google.
At White Supremacist Meeting: Nazi Salutes, Heil Hitler Chants and Celebrations of Trump
Democracy Now! – 15 hours ago
Inside, white supremacist Richard Spencer, a leader of the alt-right movement, recited Nazi …
WATCH: Richard Spencer Begins Speech With ‘Hail Trump!’
Heavy.com – 6 hours ago
White Nationalists and Nazi-Saluting Tila Tequila Toast ‘Emperor Trump’ in Washington, DC
Daily Beast – 2 days ago
I can never forget meeting an Isreali woman in Oxford, NY once who told me the Palestinians were not people. I am still aghast. How long will we have to wait until people stop behaving like they had to in the days of tribes and clans.
What a strange moral equivalency you chose Roy T., especially when the Alt Right Nazi group who met yesterday in a Chicago restaurant, made direct threats in their seeking of a totally White European America, against Blacks, Latinos, and Jews, but they did not mention Palestinians. And they all followed their leader, Spencer, and did a unified “Heil Trump” salute. As I recall you are a Trump supporter. Your hero has unleashed the worst of the bigots who all publicly support him.
I was prompted to remember this because of your reference to the nazi group suggesting that Jews are not people. It seems that the first thing humans do when they want to disrespect others dehumanize them. That is what Trump based his campaign on. That is why he is frightening to me.
Great catch!
As a lifelong advocate for public education for EVERY child and activist for children with special needs (including poverty), I am devastated by Trump and sick to my stomach over Betsy DeVos. I am born and raised in MI and I no longer recognize this “red” state that does not care about children. As an advocate I have no idea how we will stop a RED government and Queen of vouchers and schools of choice from destroying Public Education over the next four years.
We are heading down the rabbit hole! Exposing the crazies……
Note to Diane: In the future, begin posts with SATIRE! when appropriate :-).
Yes, GregB. You are right. This is an age where politics is so absurd that satire becomes impossible.
Figures some rich piece of crap would advocate for charter schools considering they ultimately perpetuate classism and racism. She has no idea what she is doing and isn’t even remotely qualified. She just wants to profit off the backs of poor children.