Tag Archives: Betsy DeVos

Friday, June 8, 2018 – Snarky Friday and Check for Understanding

Posted on June 8, 2018 | Leave a comment

Friday, June 8, 2018 – Snarky Friday and Check for Understanding

I know Snarky Friday is usually reserved for me commenting on Saturday college football, but today I’m going to snark on Betsy DeVos – also known as Betsy Devoucher, the Secretary of Education.

Dear Betsy,

Since you have no education credentials or public school background, may I suggest you Google Madeline Hunter, Patron Saint of Instructional Delivery Methods?

As one tries to educate the unwashed masses, Dr. Hunter (note she is a Doctor of Education, like I am) notes that it is imperative to check for understanding. This means check to see if those you are trying to instruct understand the concept you are teaching.

Therefore, I am checking for understanding on this School Safety Commission you are leading. I currently understand that the group will not study guns in schools. You were quoted as saying “you were studying school safety issues, but guns were not part of the study.”

As of May 25, there have been 21 school shootings since January of this year. What are you and your commission studying about schools safety? Food fights in the cafeteria? Water balloons on the playground?

Here’s what I’m thinking. Mrs. DeVos, as always you are way off target on the entire educational process, but you shot yourself in the foot with this one.

Wednesday, September 13, 2017 – Words, Quotes, Twitter and Education

Posted on September 13, 2017 | 2 comments

Wednesday, September 13, 2017 – Words, Quotes, Twitter and Education

Eclectic Wednesday. I do not feel inclined to write anything coherent with transitions so I will do what we, the recovering bureaucrats, used to call “the bureaucrat ramble.” Keep reading and hopefully you will find something that moves you.

I was told early on from two fabulous high school English teachers (Wanda Traugh and Marge Burnside) that I could write. Eventually one believes that you can and you overcome the fear of showing your words to the world.

Remember my goal everyday with HWIT is to make at least one person smile and/or think. That does not mean you like what is written or even agree with it. In fact I enjoy those brave enough to say “I don’t like what you wrote today.” This includes family members and friends.

Here are some of my favorite quotes by some of my favorite writers.

“The idea is to write it so that people hear it and it slides through the brain and goes straight to the heart.” Maya Angelou

“Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing.” Benjamin Franklin

Since it is National Peanut Day let us thank those of peanut fame; George Washington Carver, Former US President Jimmy Carter, and Peter Pan. Although we all know that choosy mothers choose JIF.

Speaking of Jimmy Carter, POTUS # 39, offered these words of advice to POTUS # 45 today –

“Keep the peace, support human rights and tell the truth.”

That seems to be good advice for everybody on a daily basis. And it will fit into a Twitter message.

Paraphrasing Dr. Strangelove or How I Stopped Worrying and Love the Bomb, I could say “How I stopped worrying and love Twitter.” Actually I don’t love or even like Twitter, but with one little tweet I went from about 30 followers to 108 in two days with more RT’s, (Retweets) Likes, Hearts and favorable emoji characters than anything I tweeted in over three years.

The tweet? It was a response to Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos – aka known as Betsy DeVoucher.

“Usually when one is in charge of the educational institution he or she has an education and understands the issues. You have neither.”

In a previous lifetime I interacted with the office holder of the position of Secretary of Education and his or her staffs on a weekly basis and annually in person. These individuals regardless of political party affiliation had one thing in common – The improvement of public and parochial schools and institutions of higher education. The letters before my name mean I am qualified to make that statement regarding the current Secretary of Education.

May 1985 – Hooding at Texas A&M Graduation = Three stripes on the sleeve, a baby blue color “hood” and flat hat with strings on the side.

“Writers are not here to conform. We are here to challenge. We’re not here to be comfortable-we’re here, really to shake things up. That’s our job.” Jeanette Wilson

2 Comments

Posted in Education, humor, Native Texan, Politics

Tagged Betsy DeVos, Donald Trump Cabinet, Dr, Dr. Strangelove, Jimmy Carter, the writing process

Tuesday, March 7, 2017 – Here’s What I’m Thinking

Posted on March 7, 2017 | Leave a comment

Tuesday, March 7, 2017 – Here’s What I’m Thinking

How about this idea? The United States Secretary of Education, Betsy DeVos DeVoucher wants “school choice.” This is when affluent parental units are able to remove their children from low performing schools. The Lt. Governor of Texas, Dan Patrick, wants students to go to the bathroom based on the gender listed on their birth certificate. This is to avoid sexual predators. FYI – Dan, it’s not like sexual predators don’t go into other bathrooms, janitors’ closets, alleyways, parks or even in their homes.

So here’s what I’m thinking – Why not have all the charter and voucher schools implement DP’s bathroom bill and then leave the rest of the public places alone?

Everyone just wants to be free to pee.

Wednesday, February 15, 2017 – Education 101. Dear Betsy.

Posted on February 15, 2017 | Leave a comment

Wednesday, February 15, 2017 – Education 101. Dear Betsy.

Good Morning, Mrs. DeVos,

In an effort to assist you in your new position as Secretary of Education I feel compelled to provide some educational vocabulary words. Let’s start with this one.

Your word for today is pedagogy. It is a noun that means the function or work of a teacher; the art or science of teaching, education and instructional methods. This word and the ability to promote sound pedagogy is taught in beginning undergraduate education classes.

Have you thought about taking an education class? Perhaps a MOOC? Google it.

The educational institution’s word for the day is: voucher. It is a noun that means “school of choice;” It also means economic, cultural, racial, religious and social segregation.

I do have a question regarding your buy out of the position and the resulting tie breaker. Regarding higher education, you were asked if you were familiar with Pell Grants. Your response was “I have several friends who attended school on Pell Grants.” Really? You actually know people with low incomes? Lady, I did not qualify for Pell Grants and I was really poor and being white was probably not an asset.

Please start a set of flash cards with education terms and jargon. Perhaps this will reduced that deer in the headlights look you have. To review, your word for today was pedagogy.

Your educational vocabulary words for tomorrow are: assessment and accountability.

Sincerely,

Delia R. Duffey, Ed.D

PS – Betsy, those letters after my name mean Doctor of Education. I actually wrote a big book report about pedagogy and methodology for teaching. Let me know if you would like to read it. It is available from the Texas A&M Library. I would like to read your big book report. Oh that’s right, you did not write one.

Buddy Glasses

———

The Federal Pell Grant Program provides need-based grants to low-income undergraduate and certain postbaccalaureate students to promote access to postsecondary education

https://www2.ed.gov/programs/fpg/index.html

# 2 Pencils (800x554)

Thursday, February 9, 2017 – My Tardy Excuse

Posted on February 10, 2017 | 1 comment

Thursday, February 9, 2017 – My Tardy Excuse

Dear Mrs. DeVos, (Do you have a title other than Mrs.? Something like Dr.?)

# 2 Pencils (800x554)

Please excuse me for being tardy in my response to your tie breaking Senate confirmation vote naming you as Secretary of Education. I was nauseated and unable to respond.

My concerns over your appointment range from grizzly bears in Wyoming to “wanting to spread God’s kingdom in public schools.” Whose God are we talking about here?

Spreading God’s kingdom is for the socially defined institutions known as FAMILY and RELIGOUS. It is the responsibility of those institutions to deliver spiritual education. It does not work like AmWay.

There is a separate, different and unique social institution that deals exclusively with EDUCATION. That is why it is called the Educational Institution.

Individuals who attended an educational institution somehow feel this qualifies them to run, administer, create and impose their belief structure and value system on schools – including colleges and universities. Why is this?

I do wish you well because now seems to be the perfect time because my friend, Dr. Policy Wonk and myself, Dr. Educational Planning and Research would like to open our own charter school. We have named it after you – The Betsy DeVos Charter School, Car Wash, Beauty Salon and Bait Store.

One last note to try to help. You do know public school teachers purchase their own supplies and materials? Here is a sharp # 2 pencil. Don’t make me tell you where I think you should put it.

Sincerely,

DrDrD

Proud Graduate of a Public School; Proud graduate of three state funded universities and proud teacher in public schools.