AUSTRALIAN COUNCIL FOR THE DEFENCE OF GOVERNMENT

SCHOOLS

 

Press Release 690

 

BETSY DEVOS, A BILLIONAIRE DEDICATED TO ‘CHRISTIANISING’ EDUCATION

UNDER QUESTION IN US SENATE

 

Opposition to DeVos in US Senate  

DeVos is one of the Trump nominees Democrats have zeroed in on, hoping that the controversy surrounding her will convince enough Republicans to vote to block the appointment. So far, no Republicans have said they will. 

Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Watson questioned Betsy Devos, exposing the lack of experience and commitment to public education of the billionaire charter school advocate selected by Trump. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/betsy-devos-education-results_us_587fb98ae4b0c147f0bc9a81

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said in a scathing statement Thursday that he plans to vote against President Donald Trump’s pick to head the Education Department. http://www.huffingtonpost.com.au/entry/chuck-schumer-trump-education-secretary-nominee-devos_us_58895b63e4b0024605fdc1ee

Betsy DeVos, floundered during her confirmation hearing last week as Democrats took turns questioning her ability to lead the department. DeVos, a billionaire from a powerful Republican family in Michigan, has been dedicated to funnelling money to “school choice” efforts ― and away from public schools. 

“Betsy DeVos would single-handedly decimate our public education system if she were confirmed,” Schumer said. “Her plan to privatize education would deprive students from a good public education, while helping students from wealthy families get another leg up.” 

Earlier this week, Democrats urged Republicans to schedule a second hearing for them to ask DeVos more questions now that all of her paperwork has been released by the Office of Government Ethics. It’s unlikely to happen, but the committee vote on her nomination was postponed until the end of the month.

A Disaster for Separation of Religion and the State

Betsy DeVos will not only be a disaster for public education in billionaire’s America – and, through example, neoliberal Australia. She will also be a disaster for separation of religion from the State. Her Christian background is peculiarly limited to a sixteenth century Dutch reformed sect. She grew up in Holland, Michigan, a blast from a sectarian past. The following research done by the ‘Mother Jones’ group indicates that Betsy DeVos comes from a previous  Calvinist” century in which the church dominated both the State and education. See http://m.motherjones.com/politics/2017/01/betsy-devos-christian-schools-vouchers-charter-education-secretary

 

 

LISTEN TO THE DOGS PROGRAM

ON 3CR

                 855 ON THE AM DIAL: 12.00 NOON   SATURDAYS