DeVos May Scrap Obama-Era Guidelines On Avoiding Discriminatory Discipline Practices

Department of Education Secretary Betsy DeVos struggled through her Sunday interview on CBS’ 60 Minutes, further confirming why she is one of the most polarizing figures of the Trump Administration.

In a broad discussion that covered the school system in her home state of Michigan and the overall public school performance in the country, the secretary stumbled to answer basic questions pertaining to her current role. 

When asked why she is considering scrapping the Obama-era guidelines on how to prevent schools from punishing students of color more harshly than their white classmates, she did not appear to have a clear answer. 

“We are studying that rule,” she told correspondent Lesley Stahl. “We need to ensure that all students have an opportunity to learn in a safe and nurturing environment. And all students means all students.”

Stahl pushed back pointing out that white students can be punished differently than Black students if either group was to become disruptive in a classroom, but DeVos responded that discipline was all based on individual cases.

She also avoided answering a question whether disproportionate discipline for the same infraction was a form institutional racism.

“We’re studying it carefully,” she said. “And [we] are committed to making sure students have the opportunity to learn in safe and nurturing environments.”