For those of you who do not know, I am a teacher by profession. This school year I took a hiatus to finish my book, and to try my hand at something new: public health education, and policy work. Although the career was not meant for me, I did learn a lot about, and gain respect for, the importance of public health education, the corporate world, and, yes, politics. I wish my old colleagues the best of luck, but I cannot wait to get back into the classroom, especially with the current educational system climate. I know, crazy!
With that being said, we, as adults, have heard a lot from our peers, the media, and other outlets on how we feel, or should feel, about the new Secretary of Education of the United States. Betsy DeVos is now in charge of setting goals, and outcomes, for how schools, teachers, and the educational system, as a whole, runs. She has the ability to suggest changes to curricula, and can work on implementing major education reform. It has been noted that DeVos lacks the social, life, and professional experiences to be positively successful in her position. We have had conversations about her thoughts on school choice, vouchers, charters, teacher unions, her failed attempts in Michigan, and the heavy opposition she gets from teachers in this country. One thing that has not been discussed, by her or the rest of the United States, is what the nation's students think of her, and the time she has taken, if any, to get their input on what they want. As an educator, I know the importance of student involvement when creating curriculum, and lesson plans. There are many ways to involve students in those processes: personal reflection on student performance; finding out students' interests; know, want to know, and learned (KWL) charts; authenticity, and diagnostic and formative assessments.
I like to think that I am an involved teacher, and I take my students' ideas, thoughts, and lives seriously. So, about a month ago, I went to my old school, the Albany Free School in Albany, New York, and spoke to some of the students about our new Secretary of Education. To get honest/unbiased input, because some students get their ideas from things they hear adults say, I did not mention the fact that I was talking about Betsy DeVos until the end of my last conversation. To keep my awesome friends' identities private, I will not mention their names, or ages, but here is what they had to say...
Q: Do you think that a person from an area that is over 80% white (census.gov), attended private school for their entire school career, and sent their children to private school, knows what it takes to prevent you from being discriminated against, and that brown students, like you, get equal access to education?
A: Depends on who it is. There was a [white] lady that always stood up for me when I got picked on before, but if she doesn't know anything about working in education, then no. I won't trust her to make sure I get the same education as rich white kids.
Q: "How would you feel if someone with no teaching experience was in charge of making decisions for you and your friends' education?"
A: "I wouldn't like it. Because they have no experience with anything..." He continued on a mini rant about the importance of having big decision makers with a lot of experience.
Q: If the person in charge of your, and your friends', mental and social growth, and the U.S. education system, was known to be a part of anti-LGBTQ efforts, what would you say to them? Do you think they would have everyone's best interest in mind?
A: "First of all, why is this asshole running our education system? The fact that you are yourself means you can't go to the bathroom at school? Not letting people go to the bathroom should be a serious crime. The fact that they are in charge is sad, and scary. No, they don't have everyone's best interest in mind!"
Q: [Your older brothers] attend public school, and are loving it. If all the money used to fund their schools, how do you all think that would affect them? How would you all feel for your brothers and their friends?
A: "That's messed up. Especially if it's in a place with poverty."
A: "What if parents can't afford it? My brother couldn't go to school."
The conversation continued on, and they spoke about how much their brothers love school, the friends they have made in their freshman year, and how they love playing sports for their schools. One of the students actually brought up another important thing on his own; the possibility of many students losing free breakfast and lunch (an effort that DeVos supports). He said, "some students would never eat because they can't eat much at home. It's great that they provide free breakfast and lunch!"
Q: Do you think going to college is the only way you can be successful in America?
A: "No, you can be successful, but you just won't be able to have some careers. People get famous from YouTube and music, and some people start businesses."
Q: If I was a billionaire, and you weren't, and we were both trying to chair a council meeting (how the Free School handles social, physical, and many other issues; using Robert's Rules of Order), how would you feel if I paid people to vote for me?
A: "NO, if you pay people it doesn't necessarily mean they like you, or think you're the best to chair, they just like your money."
I heard from many students, and they answered many questions, but these are some of the ones that stick out to me the most. This is just an example of what students think of Betsy DeVos, but, besides pointing out the obvious fact that she is unfit for her position, I wanted to drive home the point that she does not consider the young minds, like these, that she regulates. We want better, but more importantly, they want better, and know they deserve better. They may not understand politics, but they understand fair, freedom, and the importance of an experience lead education system.
I wanted to ask one more question, but couldn't find the right candidate to answer it. If you know, and have a personal relationship with, a school aged atheist, can you please ask them this question, and leave their reply in the comment section... "As an atheist, how would you feel is someone told you that the mission of education is to advance God's kingdom?"
LINKS!:
My book, Doing Not Dreaming, is now available at
Create Space,
Amazon, and
Barnes & Noble! *Please review it, on amazon or BN, if you read it. Honest opinions are appreciated.*
