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opinion
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KANSAN.COM/OPINION | THURSDAY, DEC. 1, 2016
Is anyone actually on board with this Kanye 2020 thing?
Senior regrets: not following volleyball as a freshman
Changing the game of Secret Snowflake to Snowflake Sabotage
Whoever wants gift cards instead of cash for Christmas needs therapy
MR. 305 CHECKING IN FOR THE REMIX
I'm "96% grinch" according to Buzzfeed
In Dutch fairy tales do they have fairy clog-mothers?
From my POLS professor about a research paper: "Idk just don't f*ck it up"
If your profile picture is a man-yourself or any other-wearing a federal, then I don't want to talk to you.
Sherlock's next season needs to hurry the hell
I love Mrs. E's, and I don't care who knows it
@ people who wear cowboy boots on campus: pls stop. We don't live in the country.
Saw a dog begging for a bone. It reminded me of search for a job after graduation
Lauren Conrad strikes again.
Coming back from Thanksgiving = cruising into 3 weeks of hell
who wrote "congrats president-elect Trump" on the sidewalk leading to Watson i wanna fight
Netflix does television better than television does television
I'd like to thank my body for only getting sick right when finals are coming up
It's so cold I don't think the hike to the rec is even worth it. Better order Chinese instead
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President-elect Donald Trump and Betsy DeVos shake hands at Trump National Golf Club Bedminster clubhouse in Bedminster, N.J. on Nov. 19.
McCarthy: DeVos a troubling choice
▶ KEVIN MCCARTHY
@kevindmccarthy
As the Trump transition team continues to fill its cabinet with appointees, the media continues to scrutinize and speculate. While names like Stephen Bannon and Jeff Sessions have received more attention than others, I think there are some other appointments that are flying under the radar. Betsy DeVos, who Trump selected as his nominee for Secretary of Education last week, is one such person.
Education is one issue that was not talked about very much in the general
election. However, Trump did mention during his campaign that he favored a "school choice" policy agenda that would shift federal money toward vouchers.
This policy preference is exemplified in the appointment of Betsy DeVos. In her home state of Michigan as well as other states, Ms. DeVos has spent millions to expand voucher programs. Additionally, she has a been fierce advocate for the expansion of charter schools.
So, while many of the incoming Trump administration's policies are unclear, its education policy is starting to become quite evident. A Trump presidency could result in more funding for voucher programs and charter schools. This is not too surprising, considering the Republican party has been advocating for these policies for a while.
But how well do these programs work?
We can look at two examples in Detroit and New Orleans to find the answers. These two cities have the largest share of students in charter schools in the country.
presidency could result in more funding for voucher programs and charter schools."
In the case of Detroit, the push for more charter schools has been a reaction to the failings of the public school system. Advocates, including Betsy DeVos, have claimed that charter schools offer better opportunities for students.
But, according to an investigation by the Detroit Free Press, the $1 billion of
taxpayer money that has been funneled into charter schools is being grossly mismanaged. Wasteful spending, lack of government oversight and unethical practices by for-profit companies that run the schools are just a few of the charges detailed in the investigation.
New Orleans' voucher program has also had some issues. According to a report by the Education Research Alliance for New Orleans, the city has seen declines in academic performance since school vouchers were implemented. The study found that students that participated in the voucher program have seen an 8 to 16 percentile point drop in achievement on test scores.
So what does all this mean?
Well, I think the examples of Detroit and New Orleans offer a glimpse into what a nationwide "school choice" policy would look like. Personally, when I hear people say "school choice,"I think it is code for the privatization of schools. This is not the way we should be thinking about education.
Education should be thought of as a public good that benefits all of society not a business venture that can be used to make profits. Voucher systems and charter schools only exacerbate the problems that currently exist within our education system.
Kevin McCarthy is a senior from Lenexa studying political science, history and public policy.
- Edited by Cody Schmitz
Kassebaum: So, you voted for Donald Trump
▶ NELLIE KASSEBAUM
@nelliekudk
Let me start by saying this: I have always considered myself skilled at separating my opinion of people from their actions. I make a conscious effort to not judge people. In the weeks since Nov. 8, I am afraid that is no more.
After learning some of my closest, dearest friends voted for Trump, I broke down. I was (and frankly, still am) disturbed. Yet, it seemed
shallow of me to end friend ships over an election.
But this election was more than just a vote. This was your support for a man who, in my eyes, did not deserve to be elected (or considered, for that matter) President of the United States.
A vote for Trump was saying you are okay with those crude parts of him. As a candidate with virtually no political experience, you cannot fall back on and reason your vote through any historical decisions he's made to better America. This was a new breed of candidate.
I had friends upset at being called racist, homophobic, and bigoted because they voted for the man who promoted those beliefs. Many of my friends even recognized those traits in President-elect Trump, but disowned that
part of him. They used the simple word "but" to excuse away these ruinous qualities. They acknowledged these traits, and that they are bad, then went on to say, "but his economic policy," or "but his stance on immigration," which, thereby, was ignoring his biggest character flaws.
When you voted,you voted for the whole person: their past, potential, morals and values.
"They used the simple word "but" to excuse away these ruinous qualities."
I thought about how close we were, how much my friends knew about me.
and how they knew my life could be greatly affected by a Trump presidency. I thought about those people who voted for Trump, and I can't think beyond my deep, guttural feeling that their choice was just wrong.
I don't understand you, but I want to. I want to know why you thought Trump's words and actions were okay. I want to know what made them presidential to you. I want to know. I especially want to understand those who recognize his disturbing past, politically and morally incorrect values, and archaic stance on many issues, yet
I know I cannot understand your vote. I know I cannot change your vote. I just hope someday you see it was wrong to endorse the terrible things Trump stands for.
went out of their way to cast a vote for him.
As far as our friendship goes, I'm trying to be a bigger person here, I really am. Unfortunately, my conscience does not operate as a democracy. I came across a quote by Atticus Finch, famed literary hero of To Kill A Mockingbird, who said "Before I can live with other folks I've got to live with myself. The one thing that doesn't abide by majority rule is a person's conscience." I cannot be silent about your vote. I stand by my disappointment.
Nellie Kassebaum is a sophomore from Burdick studying English.
- Edited by Lexanna Sims
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