Education Secretary Betsy DeVos won’t let protesters get in the way of executing her vision for the country’s schools.
Speaking to a crowd at the American Legislative Exchange Council’s annual meeting on July 20, DeVos — a frequent target of protests — referred to those demonstrations as “a badge of honor.” In a nod to the gathering of protesters outside the Denver conference, DeVos said to the crowd of legislators, “You’re certainly no strangers to organized protests by defenders of the status quo. But, it’s the first time in recent history I’ve been to an event where the protesters aren’t necessarily here just for me!”
“But I consider the ‘excitement’ a badge of honor,” DeVos continued, “And so should you. Our opponents, the defenders of the status quo, only protest those capable of implementing real change. You represent real change.”
Later in the speech, the secretary asked aides to put a hostile tweet that the American Federation of Teachers, one of the country’s largest teachers’ unions, directed at her on the display screen, so she could rebuke it. “Can you please put this up on the screen? You have to see it,” DeVos remarked.
.@BetsyDeVosED says public $ should invest in indiv students. NO we should invest in a system of great public schools for all kids.
— AFT (@AFTunion) July 10, 2017
DeVos has found herself on the end of the some of the most venomous opposition directed at any member of the Trump administration. Though it seemed at first as if the secretary was treading carefully, after nearly six months on the job, the secretary now appears to be getting more comfortable.
To her detractors in the Resistance, that should be frightening. To the rest of us, it should be exciting to know DeVos won’t be intimidated out of promoting the serious reforms our education system needs.
Emily Jashinsky is a commentary writer for the Washington Examiner.
