January 25, 2017

Chairman Daniello weighs in State Senate Republican's Backing of Secretary of Education Nom. Betsy DeVos

Press Release

State Party Chairman weighs in on DE Senate Republican's Supporting Secretary of Education Nom. Betsy DeVos

 
Delaware Democratic Party Chairman, John Daniello, has issued the following statement in response to several Delaware state senators signing a letter in support of Secretary of Education Nominee, Betsy DeVos.   

"Betsy DeVos, Donald Trump's choice for education secretary, is wholly unfit to lead our country's schools. Not only is she being awarded this position in exchange for the hundreds of millions of dollars she gave to Republican campaigns, she also advocated for defunding public education and replacing it with a voucher system that would line the pockets of for-profit schools and the millionaires who back them.

"Our children's futures should not be for sale to the highest bidder. The Secretary of Education has to be a person who truly understands America's public school students and educators. Betsy DeVos has shown that she is not that person. During a baffling Senate hearing, DeVos was unable to answer even the simplest questions regarding how best to analyze student success, saw no issue with her lack of any experience working with - or even attending - a public school, and even cited grizzly bears as a reason to allow guns in the classroom.

"That is why I found it so disheartening to see so many of Delaware's Republican state senators endorse DeVos' nomination. If Betsy DeVos represents the kind of education policies that Republicans plan on bringing to our state, it is more important than ever for us to stand with Delaware's students and teachers. On February 25th we'll have an opportunity to do just that by electing Democrat Stephanie Hansen in the 10th Senatorial District Special election and rejecting the Republicans' profiteering, anti-teacher agenda."