Over the past several years, the Tribune has repeatedly published anti-teacher, anti-union editorials. So, it comes as no surprise that you would choose to endorse Betsy DeVos as education secretary. In the past, you have run op-eds from two anti-union North Side teachers who infer that any teacher who fights for our contracted rights does not truly care about educating Chicago’s students.
I cannot tell you how many teachers spend countless hours of their free time and hundreds of dollars of their own money to provide opportunities and essentials for the students they teach. Protecting our rights to a fair wage and fair benefits does not take away from our dedication to our craft, and it is an insult for anyone, especially fellow educators, to imply that this is the case.
DeVos has never attended public schools or been an educator. Thousands of educators around the country have expressed their opposition to her nomination. Shouldn’t our voices be the ones that count? Under her reign in Michigan, charter schools abound. Michigan is now one of the lowest-performing school systems in the country. Why would we put someone in a position of power whose sole qualification is the millions of dollars her family has donated to the Republican Party?
Educators deserve someone who has the knowledge and experience to deal with the many issues that face our schools and impact our students. Betsy DeVos is not that person.
— Marcey Berman, Chicago
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