DeVos approval bodes ill for public schools

The approval of Betsy DeVos as Secretary of Education is alarming given that she does not support public education and under the guise of "choice," plans to decimate it with vouchers and charter schools.

Ms. DeVos neglects to explain that historically, voucher programs have failed to provide real choice for all parents because vouchers cover only a fraction of the private or religious school tuition, leaving low-income children out, forcing them to return to the public schools whose financial resources have been depleted by the voucher program.

Even more egregious, these publicly paid vouchers support religious schools.

The fundamental problem with vouchers and charter schools are that both systems place a significant burden on parents to gather information about the schools, visit the schools, complete applications, attend interviews, and, with vouchers and some charters, arrange transportation for their child. Parents who are not fluent in English or unable to miss work to complete all the tasks listed above are at a distinct disadvantage.

Even when parents have jumped through all the hoops, the application process is used to "weed out" the more challenging students, those with disabilities, behavior problems, etc. The explanation given to disappointed parents is that the school is looking out for their child because the school doesn't have the resources to deal with the child's needs.

The ideal school for Betsy De Vos is Christian, populated with students without problems, whose parents speak English and are financially and socially secure. Anyone who doesn't meet her requirements will be left to pull themselves up by their boot straps. if only Ms. DeVos' Christianity would compel her to provide boots.

Mary Perry Bates

Ingleside