Idiocracy

Within days President Donald Trump's nominee to head the Department of Education will face a confirmation vote in the U. S. Senate. The nominee is Betsy DeVos, a woman who has never taught in, worked in, or sent her children to a public school.  She received her own primary, secondary, and post-secondary education from private schools.  She has been an advocate of for-profit charter schools but holds no degree in education or related field and lacks any experience with student loans.  DeVos distinguished herself during her confirmation hearing by demonstrating a lack of knowledge or understanding of portions of federal education law.  By literally all measure, DeVos has no qualifications applicable to holding a position in education beyond classroom parent volunteer let alone that of national education policy leader with control of a $69 billion budget.  Yet, Betsy DeVos is still on track to become Secretary of Education.

President Trump prides himself on his business acumen.  Under what circumstance would even he put someone with no relevant experience in charge of one of his companies?  Would Trump supporters be good with getting on a United Airlines flight with a pilot that has never been an airline passenger let alone trained to fly a Boeing 757?  It's likely safe to say most would think a trained professional paramount to successfully landing a passenger jet.  Attempting to justify an amateur heading the DoE sends the strong message that public education doesn't matter.

The DeVos choice speaks volumes about how Trump values education.  During the confirmation hearings, DeVos agreed that her family has collectively donated roughly $200 million to GOP candidates.  Trump is simply throwing the Republican Party a bone by rewarding a big donor with this nomination.  And what do one do with fluff appointee not part of the core team?  Obviously, place her in a spot believed to be valueless where she'll do no harm to actual administration priorities.  That worthless post in Trump's view is head of the Department of Education.

When demographic study of Trump voters during a campaign win in Nevada revealed he commanded a significant portion of the non-college educated vote, Trump famously stated, "I love the poorly educated" during his victory speech.  In the context of the speech the remark was likely more a swipe at elitism than an actual anti-education platform statement but Trump's support does erode quickly among voters with higher levels of education.  The old adage knowledge is power is fundamentally true and that represents a threat to Trump who notoriously believes he is the smartest person in any room.

Trump is far from the smartest person in any room but he is the most narcissistic.  For that reason alone it's a near certainty that Trump will not back down on the DeVos nomination in the face of overwhelming evidence she is unqualified and crumbling support from even some GOP quarters.  Trump inability to admit error will compel him to bully this nomination through.   His actions are singularly focused on him "winning" and have nothing to do with cultivating the next generation of best and brightest with a quality public education policy led by a competent professional.

The idea a cabinet position is being used as a donor premium in politics the same way a coffee mug is used as incentive to donate to a public radio station is criminal.  The way America on the whole treats education is criminal.  We lack meaningful action around providing educators with quality teaching tools and livable wages.  The goal of clean, safe schools with strong curricula should dominate the nation education conversation.  Instead we have a sideshow of the ridiculous where the national discourse focuses on things like whether guns belong in schools or whether text books should include - what do we call them now - alternative facts.  Guns do not belong in schools, not even to fend off grizzlies per DeVos.  The Earth is also not 6000 years old nor did Jesus ride a dinosaur like a pony.

How many families have been proud of the first of their lineage to attend college, to get a well paying job, to be more successful than their parents?  Many voters cited increasing these opportunities in their reasoning to support Trump.  They should be appalled at the DeVos nomination.  Across the political spectrum education is nearly always cited as cornerstone to building the American Dream.  The President has backed an unfit amateur to manage that cornerstone; it's another step toward a destiny of idiocracy under President Trump.