Senator Al Franken did not mince his words as he proved to everyone attending Trump’s education appointee Betsy DeVos’s hearings that she is incompetent and unqualified for the job. Franken’s closing statement said it all.
Trump’s Education Appointee fumbles
Trump’s Education Appointee was unable to answer a question that anyone within the education field must be abreast of given that policy depends on it.
“I would like your views on the relative advantage,” Franken asked. “Of measuring assessments and using them to measure proficiency or measure growth.”
“Thank you, Senator, for that question,” Betsy DeVos replied. “I think if I understand your question correctly around proficiency I would also correlate it to competency and mastery so that each student is measured to the advancement that they are making in each subject area.”
“Well that’s growth,” Al Franken interjected. “That’s not proficiency.So in other words, the growth that they are making is in growth. The proficiency is an arbitrary standard.”
“Proficiency is if they reach like third-grade level for reading etc.,” DeVos replied.
“No, I am talking about the debate between proficiency and growth,” an exasperated Franken replied. “What’re your thoughts are on that.”
“Well, I was just asking to clarify … ,” DeVos fumbled.
“This is a subject that has been debated in the education community for years,” Franken interjected. “And I have advocated growth as the chairman and every member of this committee knows. Because with proficiency teachers ignore the kids at the top who are not going to fall below proficiency. And they ignore the kid at the bottom who no matter what they do will never get to proficiency. So I have been an advocate of growth. But it surprises me that you don’t know this issue. And Mr. Chairman I think this is a good reason for us to have more questions.”
Being a billionaire does not inherently means one has the intellect for an important job like Education Secretary.