Category: Education

Betsy DeVos’ spokesperson, Ed Patru, works for a Washington “crisis management” firm that specializes in building “astroturf” groups

Betsy DeVos’ spokesperson, Ed Patru, works for a Washington “crisis management” firm that specializes in building “astroturf” groups

The confirmation vote for Donald Trump’s nominee for Secretary of Education, Michigan billionaire Betsy DeVos, is scheduled for this Tuesday, so we can expect to see a final flurry of information–and misinformation, as it may be–over the next 48 hours in an all-out attempt to secure her the position. And it’s a good bet that one of the individuals behind […]

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Betsy DeVos paid for a Grand Rapids school superintendent to support her at her Senate confirmation in Washington, DC

Betsy DeVos paid for a Grand Rapids school superintendent to support her at her Senate confirmation in Washington, DC

Betsy DeVos, Pr*sident Donald Trump’s pick to be his Secretary of Education, is rightfully being exposed nationally for her anti-public education agenda. As I and Mitchell Robinson have been explaining repeatedly, Betsy DeVos isn’t just unqualified, she’s DANGEROUS. She’s never attended a public school. She’s never sent her children to a public school. She’s never taught in ANY school. She’s […]

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Photo credit: M. Robinson

Betsy DeVos is not just unqualified, she’s dangerous

The news that Betsy DeVos will not divest her financial interest in Neurocore, a Michigan “biofeedback” company, should alarm anyone who cares about the health and safety of our children. Because this is not simply a financial issue; it’s part of a disturbing trend in Ms. DeVos’ involvement and activism in education, and her potential confirmation as Secretary of Education. […]

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An out of service toilet in a Detroit school.

Flush this, Mr. President

In his inaugural speech, the newly installed President of the United States made the following comment: “An education system flush with cash, but which leaves our young and beautiful students deprived of all knowledge”. Incensed, I immediately wanted to share my thoughts about these mean-spirited, belittling words–but I couldn’t. Because I was in Grand Rapids at the Michigan Music Conference […]

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Betsy DeVos’s confirmation hearing proves she’s unqualified, dangerous, and out of her league. PLUS: GRIZZLIES!!!

Betsy DeVos’s confirmation hearing proves she’s unqualified, dangerous, and out of her league. PLUS: GRIZZLIES!!!

It’s unmistakably clear that Republicans are doing everything they can to protect their corporatist benefactor Betsy DeVos from having to face any sort of real scrutiny in her bid to become the nation’s Secretary of Education. They scheduled her confirmation hearing BEFORE the U.S. Office of Government Ethics had released its report on her so that she can’t be questioned […]

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Grading Betsy DeVos’ confirmation day exam

Grading Betsy DeVos’ confirmation day exam

Betsy DeVos believes these 5 things about government. As a career teacher, I thought I’d take this opportunity to grade Ms. DeVos’ responses as though they were answers on an exam. I understand she’s a big fan of “accountability,” so I’m sure she will appreciate the feedback, especially as she crams for her confirmation hearings, scheduled for later today… 1. […]

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No, Betsy DeVos is not qualified to be Secretary of Education

No, Betsy DeVos is not qualified to be Secretary of Education

Former Michigan Governor John Engler is out with a new piece on The Hill touting his friend, West Michigan billionaire heiress Betsy DeVos, as a “champion for all American students.” As a resident of Michigan, this strikes me as Lord Voldemort endorsing Dolores Umbridge as the Headmaster of Hogwarts, or perhaps as Stannis Baratheon offering his strong support for Melisandre […]

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Socio-political artist Michael D’Antuono’s latest work graphically depicts Betsy DeVos’s devastating dream for education

Socio-political artist Michael D’Antuono’s latest work graphically depicts Betsy DeVos’s devastating dream for education

Michael D’Antuono is an artist who challenges our social and political beliefs with his hard-hitting and often controversial paintings. His work has been featured here at Eclectablog before (HERE and HERE.) Just in time for the confirmation hearings of Betsy DeVos, Donald Trump’s pick for Secretary of Education, D’Antuono has a new painting out titled “Class System” that graphically depicts […]

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#RESIST: Michigan Gubernatorial candidate Gretchen Whitmer refuses to be bullied by Betsy DeVos

#RESIST: Michigan Gubernatorial candidate Gretchen Whitmer refuses to be bullied by Betsy DeVos

Bullying and intimidation are the modus operandi of Donald Trump and those who support him. Through personal insults and vague threats, they attempt to make people afraid to oppose them. His pick for Secretary of Education, Betsy DeVos, is no exception. Earlier this week, Gretchen Whitmer sent out this fundraising email as part of her bid to be Michigan’s governor […]

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Republican Congressman Bill Huizenga: Spokesmodel for Betsy DeVos

Republican Congressman Bill Huizenga: Spokesmodel for Betsy DeVos

If you have any misconceptions about how powerful Betsy DeVos and her family’s money is – not just in Michigan but nationally – have a look at the video below. That’s Congressman Bill Huizenga who represents the highly conservative 2nd Congressional District on Michigan’s west coast. Huizenga is a former classmate of his good buddy Erik Prince, founder of the […]

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How the reformers devalue teaching experience: Forbes edition

How the reformers devalue teaching experience: Forbes edition

A recent article from EdSurge.com unveiled the newly-enshrined members of the Forbes “30 under 30 Education Leaders to Learn From” Class of 2017. While I tend to believe that most of this genre of rankings articles (Best Colleges, Best Places to Live, Best Chicken Wings–spoiler alert: they’re from Buffalo!) aren’t worth the paper they are printed on–or the bytes they occupy in cyber-space, as the […]

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