Dear editor:
In response to Michael Young's letter to the editor (The Sentinel-Record, Feb. 9, 2017), the DeVos cartoon (The Sentinel-Record, Feb. 5, 2017, originally from the Detroit News) needs no redrawing; it is quite accurate. Not only were the votes of at least 20 Democratic senators opposing DeVos influenced by teachers' unions, as stated by Mr. Young, according to Alaskan sources, Republican Lisa Murkowski's vote against DeVos was "bought and paid for" by the NEA. Republican Susan Collins' campaign has also been supported by the NEA.
I'll also agree with Mr. Young that teachers' "unions are strong supporters of public education." They must be, for they have an almost complete monopoly on public education and public education is the worse for it. Sure, they oppose vouchers that can be used for private schools. Why? Surely not so as to improve public education; rather because they fear competition from private schools, which might actually help to improve public education!
Mr. Young failed to point out that teachers' unions have also opposed merit pay for superior teachers; they have pushed for teacher tenure that has made it virtually impossible to dismiss incompetent teachers; they have forced unwilling teachers to pay union dues; and they have opposed the charter school movement -- all in the interest of improving public education, I'm sure! So the "kids are not us" portion of the Feb. 5 cartoon was just as accurate about the teacher union lobby as was the purchase of both Democratic and Republican senators' votes. Henry Payne's cartoon was right on!
As an experienced educator, my observation is that what we really need to improve public education is more competition from the private sector, not an insider to preserve the status quo. Ms. DeVos has a proven record of working to improve education for Michigan children and youths. Fortunately, 50 Republican senators and the VP recognized that need for more competition and confirmed her.
LeVerne Bissell
Hot Springs
Editorial on 02/19/2017