After school trip, Betsy DeVos insults teachers for their ‘receive mode’

Despite being blocked by protesters when she arrived for her first official school visit as U.S. education secretary, Betsy DeVos seemed to enjoy her day at Jefferson Middle School Academy in Washington earlier this month. DeVos had nothing but good things to say as she left the high-poverty school recognized for its academic progress. She called it “awesome” and “wonderful.”

But a few days later, talking to a conservative magazine, DeVos said the teachers at Jefferson lacked the right attitude: “I can tell the attitude is more of a receive mode. They’re waiting to be told what they have to do, and that’s not going to bring success to an individual child. You have to have teachers who are empowered to facilitate great teaching.”

That comment did not sit well with the staff at Jefferson or with educators around the country, especially since DeVos has never taught, lacks any education background and never attended a public school.