On Feb. 7, 2017, Republican Betsy DeVos was confirmed as the U.S. Secretary of Education by a Senate vote of 51-50 with Vice President Mike Pence breaking the tie. This was the first time in history where a VP had to break a tie. This was due to DeVos’ controversial background as a business woman, philanthropist, and political campaign contributor most notably to Donald Trump’s presidential campaign. She is also well-known for her advocacy for charter schools.

“I don’t think she’s a great choice. I appreciate her willingness to serve, but she doesn’t have a lot of experience with the public school system. Such as assessments, procedures, and funding.” english teacher Allison Evans said.  “I would have liked to have someone in that position who knew those things more than she does,” English teacher Allison Evans said.

This can be true in many ways. The only experience DeVos has with education is that she is “a champion of school choice,” including that she offered families private school vouchers. Many people dislike DeVos for her lack of knowledge with running education, and the actions she might make. When she was questioned about her future actions, she was uncomfortable when asked about her views on guns, disabilities, and borrowing money for education in school. Due to her lack of knowledge on these topics, she believed that the state’s should have control over these decisions.

Betsy DeVos has never been in a public school setting, and her children have never been in any public schools. She’s been in private education her entire life, and because the secretary of education deals with the majority with people enrolled in the public school system, and children who are in need of funding for school, she really does not have any understanding of that.She advocates for school choice. Also DeVos mentioned that she was not going to regulate charter schools, but some feel that this is a really big problem because if charter schools are going to exist in general, they need to be regulated, and held to the same standards as public schools. This is so that the children are getting similar education, or that the education is up the the standards of the state, and federal level.

“As a student in the public school system, I’m really scared for my future, and the future of my sisters and my kids because education is just so important.” junior Sarah Hamid said.

DeVos wants to use America’s schools to build “God’s Kingdom,” according to when she spoke at “The Gathering” in 2001. DeVos favors religious schools very much. This can make many parents unhappy as well. There are thousands of families who are not religious at all, who would not want their children to be reading anything out of the bible. Also, Trump has recently stated that he wants children to use bathrooms and locker rooms in school that match their true identity, and this has been labeled by some as “sex discrimination”. But DeVos argued, stating that children should be able to feel safe, and freely use what they want in the school environment.

“Let me say I fully embrace equality, and I believe in the innate value of every single human being, and that all students, no matter their age, should be able to attend a school and feel safe and be free of discrimination,” DeVos said.

  As the senator of education, many people believe that DeVos should be open to all types of schools because she will be making decisions for all of them, not just the ones she favors. On repeat occasions, DeVos has expressed her favor in the charter school system. Believing that teachers in charter and private school are much more likely to lead the way toward better education. Going to private schools requires money, so the question of where this money will come from arises. Is this money that will come from taxes? Because if so, this will upset many people that do not want to have to pay for their children’s education. She does not exactly plan on forcing children into private and charter schools, but she does advocate highly for them as of right now.

“I think the foundation of America was to provide free education for all students.” english teacher Maria Zavala said.

Overall, many people are scared or upset and will have to be ready for her decisions that are coming. Now that she is being confirmed, no one really knows what kinds of actions she will take charge of in the future. On that note, CHS and the rest of the nation will have to see what things she will take into action, and the decisions she will make.