FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Rep. Sondy Pope

July 24, 2018 608-266-3520

MADISON, Wis. – Today, U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy Devos visited Adams-Friendship Middle School to learn how it incorporates the statewide behavioral health framework into everyday operations. Governor Walker was absent, but instead sent First Lady Tonette Walker. Representative Sondy Pope (D-Mt. Horeb), the ranking Democrat on the Assembly Committee on Education, released the following statement regarding the visit:

“It surprises me that Governor Walker, who has spent the recent months attempting to more closely ally himself with the Trump administration, would not personally appear with the president’s high-profile Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos. After giving himself the title of a “pro-education” governor, you would think that Walker would jump at the opportunity to appear with DeVos. Through her family wealth, she directly funds Walker and the Republicans’ school-privatization ALEC agenda. Perhaps even Governor Walker recognizes how unpopular DeVos is, as she languishes with an approval rating around 20 percent.”

“Simply put, Secretary DeVos is unfit to serve in her position. She openly supports for-profit education, has no previous experience in teaching or education, and has never attended a public school, nor has she sent any of her children to public school. Worse yet, she makes this visit in the name of school safety yet refuses to acknowledge the role firearms play in endangering to our children. Maybe this is due to the fact that there are no grizzly bears in Wisconsin. Our students and those across the country deserve better.”

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