DFER Releases New Video Asking Secretary Devos: Why Is There Not Enough Money To Train Teachers But There Is Enough Money To Train Them To Be Sharpshooters?

March 20, 2018

DFER RELEASES NEW VIDEO ASKING SECRETARY DeVOS: WHY IS THERE NOT ENOUGH MONEY TO TRAIN TEACHERS BUT THERE IS ENOUGH MONEY TO TRAIN THEM TO BE SHARPSHOOTERS?

DeVos Set to Testify this AM Before The House Appropriations Subcommittee That Oversees Education Spending; Trump Budget Proposal Cuts More Than $2B From Title II Teacher Training

 Watch Video Here; #ArmTeachersWith Resources Not Guns

March 20, 2018 — Ahead of Education Secretary Betsy DeVos’ testimony today before the House Appropriations subcommittee that oversees education spending, Democrats for Education Reform (DFER) today released a video asking her, “Why isn’t there enough money to train teachers to teach...But there’s suddenly enough money to train them to be sharpshooters?” Watch the video here.

Secretary DeVos, who is leading President Trump’s school safety commission, is expected to be asked about her support for programs that arm trained school personnel, including teachers.  Notably, President Trump’s proposed education budget eliminates $2.3 billion from the Title II grant program for teacher development, and yet there appears to be funding available to, as he’s said give, “The people that do carry… we give them a bonus, we give them a little bit of a bonus.”

“Last year President Trump said there wasn’t enough money in the federal budget to train teachers to teach better but this year the budget suddenly has enough money to train teachers to be armed guards — this is cognitive dissonance 101,” said Shavar Jeffries, president of Democrats for Education Reform.  “Schools should be safe havens for learning math and science, not duck and cover.  Students need more books, art and music programs, nurses and school counselors — what they don’t need is more guns in their classrooms.”

The American Federation of Teachers and the National Education Association, the country’s two largest teachers’ organizations, oppose allowing guns in schools.  The federal government’s chief legal, law enforcement, public health, education, and emergency management agencies all agree that guns in schools would create more safety concerns.  More information on why we should “Keep Guns out of Elementary, Middle and High Schools” from Everytown for Gun Safety is available here.

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