1/ For those of you watching the Betsy DeVos interview, some background:
2/ DeVos, married to heir to the Amway fortune, has spent a lifetime trying to tear down public schools. It's done in the name of "choice" but really it's about allowing religious schools to take over: motherjones.com/politics/2017/…
3/ DeVos comes from a sect that historically believes that public education is akin to socialism motherjones.com/politics/2017/…
4/ DeVos' extended family has given to a variety of Christian and/or conservative causes, but religious education is most key: motherjones.com/politics/2014/… 
5/ The other big cause is union busting:
6/ As @LesleyRStahl alluded to, the DeVos clan has funded a huge overhaul of Michigan public schools to favor charters. "Lots of choice, no good choice."
7/ The "reforms" that DeVos wants to spread across the country are particularly devastating to communities of color: motherjones.com/politics/2016/…
8/ But make no mistake that what DeVos ultimately wants is to defund public schools for private RELIGIOUS charters.
9/ Oh and her brother is Erik "Blackwater" Prince. Who was at that meeting in Seychelles trying to set up a Trump/Putin back channel. Who wants to replace US military with private mercenaries (ie his company): motherjones.com/politics/2018/…
10/ If "arming teachers" becomes a thing, you know that Erik Prince will be angling for a piece of that funding.
11/ Meanwhile when DeVos went to Parkland, she refused to meet with students or journalists. In the words of one student "she was there for 20 minutes and pet a dog."
12/ DeVos-funded institute invented the "Overton window" concept—gradually shifting public opinion by moving the goal posts—re defunding public schools for charters: motherjones.com/politics/2017/…
13/ Here is the @60Minutes interview/transcript. DeVos represents a material threat to public education and separation of church and state. cbsnews.com/news/secretary…
14/ But she also represents two broader issues:
* The power of mega donors.
* The idea that so many rich people without any background in education or child development have: that they know best how to "fix" schools. It is the worst form of blinkered paternalism.
* The power of mega donors.
* The idea that so many rich people without any background in education or child development have: that they know best how to "fix" schools. It is the worst form of blinkered paternalism.
15/ When DeVos says she's not interested in investing in buildings, it's code for investing in remote learning schemes. Like the one (which she backed) that just cratered in Ohio: motherjones.com/politics/2018/…
