After threat of protest...Betsy DeVos mysteriously cancels secret surprise school visit

[DonViejo]

Source: The New Civil Rights Movement




After threat of protest by transgender student Betsy DeVos mysteriously cancels secret surprise school visit

By DAVID BADASH MARCH 27, 201811:28 AM

Once again Betsy DeVos tried to visit a school without informing parents, and once again they found out and a protest was planned.

Parents of students attending a Frederick, Maryland charter school were a bit curious when their children came home with permission slips to be photographed on Tuesday by the media – without any explanation as to why.

“We just would have liked to know who was visiting the school and what they were planning to do,” parent Eric Schobel, who debated keeping his child home, told The Frederick News-Post. “We didn’t want our child being used as a political football.” Schobel's instincts were right.

Students at the Frederick Classical Charter School would have been photographed with Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos, who did not co-ordinate her visit with the Frederick County Public Schools or the Board of Education. DeVos was to appear as part of a joint visit with the Reading is Fundamental children's literacy non-profit.

Read more: http://www.thenewcivilrightsmovement.com/2018/03/after-threat-of-protest-by-transgender-student-betsy-devos-mysteriously-cancels/

[TeamPooka]

1. Now RIF is compromised too? Great. nt

[riversedge]

16. I imagine DeVos edged her way into this program--optics are good. Kinda hard

for a non profit to say no to the Sec of Education. Just saying.

[pandr32]

2. Way to be vigilant, Parents!

[Ohiogal]

3. Why doesn't this ninny

ever visit any public schools?

[Angry Dragon]

4. They do not exist in her mind

[marylandblue]

8. Every time she shows up there are protests

She knows she is not wanted.

[roscoeroscoe]

5. Ha ha, way to go Frederick!!!!!

Loving it, can't wait to see local coverage. This is a great town, glad to know Frederick held firm!

[riversedge]

17. Please post it when you find it. Thanks.

[roscoeroscoe]

20. Here's the local coverage and comments

From the Frederick News-Post:

https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/education/schools/public_k-12/charter/school-notes-education-secretary-devos-frederick-visit-canceled/article_103075e7-18ff-5f76-8600-5bb2140fe72d.html

I was so happy to be able to tell my wife Frederick held the line!

[louis-t]

6. Fascists sure are cowards.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

7. The Frederick News-Post doesn't let non-subscribers read too many articles online. Here it is:

The secrecy surrounding this stinks.

School Notes: Education Secretary DeVos' Frederick visit canceled

By Allen Etzler [e-mail] Mar 26, 2018 Updated 2 hrs ago

A visit to Frederick by U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos scheduled for Tuesday has been canceled. ... DeVos was originally scheduled to come to Frederick Classical Charter School as part of a joint event along with the children’s literacy organization Reading Is Fundamental in which representatives were slated to hand out books and read to students. But the school sent out an email Sunday evening saying that no one from the Department of Education would be able to visit the school.

“My reaction is that plans change,” said Lee Hand, acting principal of Frederick Classical Charter School, in an email. “From the beginning, the event was about the Reading Is Fundamental organization visiting to speak about literacy and share books with students. Fortunately our students enjoy engaging reading opportunities daily.”

The Department of Education did not respond to a request for comment about DeVos’ scheduled visit or the cancellation. ... Board of Education President Brad Young said he could not comment on the reasons for DeVos’ cancellation, because neither Frederick County Public Schools central office nor the board was included in the planning or the change of plans regarding the visit, he said.
....

The school issued an email Monday night saying law enforcement will be present at the school Tuesday, even though “no special events are planned.” ... The school will also host a forum Wednesday morning in the cafeteria with parents of students to address concerns.

[riversedge]

18. IMHO--Devos edged her way in because of her position (cynical I know). Glad she

had to cancel. chicken.

[riversedge]

19. A Transgender student organized the protest....

And chicken Devos cancells. te he.



https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/education/schools/public_k-12/charter/school-notes-education-secretary-devos-frederick-visit-canceled/article_103075e7-18ff-5f76-8600-5bb2140fe72d.html


.............When parents found out that DeVos would be part of the visit, which DeVos and Reading Is Fundamental requested, some parents called the school to express their concerns, according to an email sent from Superintendent Terry Alban to a parent.

James van Kuilenburg, a transgender student at Gov. Thomas Johnson High School, organized a protest for the same day as DeVos’ visit, due to the policy ideas DeVos has proposed and enacted. The protest has been canceled since DeVos is no longer visiting the school.

Neither the Department of Education, Board of Education nor the school commented on whether the planned protests led to the change of plans.

The email sent to parents confirmed that no one from the Department of Education would visit the school, but did not specifically name DeVos. Alban’s email, however, confirmed that DeVos had been scheduled to visit.

The school issued an email Monday night saying law enforcement will be present at the school Tuesday, even though “no special events are planned.”

The school will also host a forum Wednesday morning in the cafeteria with parents of students to address concerns.

[erronis]

9. That used to be my home town. Interesting and diverse but conflicted

There's a lot of people that are Frederick County born with multiple generations. Generally farmers, tradespeople, pretty conservative.

In the 40/50's Fort Detrick became a research facility for various chemical (biological?) warfare instruments, or at least studying use and antidotes. That's where the supposed anthrax attack originated aligned with the US fear-mongering post-2001.

And then in the 70's onward it became a long-distance bedroom community serving Montgomery County and other DC suburbs. There was a tremendous influx of intellectuals and academics, especially from other countries. This did not necessarily sit well with the older Frederick community.

I think it is all working out fairly well, but I could see a dump administration lackey being welcomed by some and derided by others.

[FakeNoose]

10. Awesome parents in Frederick, MD

After parents saw what Trump did at the Boyscout Jamboree last year, every parent should be suspicious of allowing these unscrupulous asshats around their children.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

11. So, even charter schools don't want her.

I know she's no friend to public schools.

Of course, some republicans claim that charter schools ARE public schools. At least when it comes to sucking money from the public school tax pool.

[vlyons]

12. Are all charter schools also private schools?

I'm just curious

[MGKrebs]

15. No. Here in Georgia there are many so-called "charter" schools that are also

public schools. It just means that they have been granted a 'charter' which usually means they are exempt from certain public school requirements, usually in return for some enhanced performance goals.
I think the whole Atlanta Public School system is a charter system.

[BigmanPigman]

13. She was supposed to come to my school district but so many

people complained that it was canceled. I wrote a "thank you" to the board. This was a month after she got her cabinet position.

[torius]

14. She's changing it to Reading Is Fundamentalist...