Education Secretary Betsy DeVos Infuriated Some With Her Comments About Black Colleges

BI - Inside Higher Ed ^ | 2-27-2017 | Scott Jaschik, Inside Higher Ed

[blam]

Monday evening, the Education Department issued a statement from Education Secretary Betsy DeVos that has infuriated many advocates for historically black colleges. The statement comes when many leaders of black colleges are in Washington for meetings at the White House and with Republican Congressional leaders, who have been wooing black colleges and pledging to help them.

Most of the statement is innocuous. She praises black colleges. In perhaps a sign not to expect too much money from the Trump administration, she says, "[r]ather than focus solely on funding, we must be willing to make the tangible, structural reforms that will allow students to reach their full potential." And she notes that black colleges were created when "there were too many students in America who did not have equal access to education."

But DeVos goes on to link black colleges to the issue of school choice -- a cause for which she is an advocate. "HBCUs are real pioneers when it comes to school choice," she said. "They are living proof that when more options are provided to students, they are afforded greater access and greater quality. Their success has shown that more options help students flourish."

(snip)

[montag813]

What is this term "Historically Black Colleges"? Because "Black Colleges" seems more racist.

[mrsmel]

LOL. Is it wishful thinking, or is there a bit of being hoisted on their own petard in her statement to them?

[lastchance]

Just when you thought Libs and their ilk could not be anymore ignorant.

I want that pearls concession.

[trebb]

And she notes that black colleges were created when "there were too many students in America who did not have equal access to education."

Nothing like the Truth to infuriate the racists who see racism in everyone but themselves....how dare she say that the main effort should be to ensure the curriculum is designed to help the students be successful....

[Steve_Seattle]

"Public black colleges were created with a fraction of the budgets, programs and facilities of their predominantly white counterparts. While many students did thrive at these institutions, educators there constantly decried the lack of resources (and many maintain that continues to this day)."

These days, I might have more confidence that blacks are getting a good education at one of these black colleges, rather than at a regular college dominated by racist white liberals who don't think blacks are capable of learning proper English.

[BitWielder1]

Oh no, Betsy DeVos is speaking.
Quick, slam her for something, anything!!!
/s

[TheNext]

FAKE NEWS CORRECTION

Betsy Devos did NOT infuriate some with her comments about Black Colleges.

[Tax-chick]

When people are infuriated by the statement of obvious facts like, “More options help more students flourish,” you can bet those people are making money off selling lies.

[TheNext]

I was not infuriated. So it is a lie.

[lastchance]

“Further, as states created public historically black colleges, they did so to meet “separate but equal” “

Most were created as land-grant colleges or “normal” and pre-date Brown V Board of Education.

[kenmcg]

How about for every black college there should be a white college? Oh how they would scream!!!

[BenLurkin]

Nothing outrageous in the excerpt. Is there something at the link?

[papertyger]

Sure they’re infuriated; she’s telling them “we’re looking at YOUR ‘school choice’ privilege.”

[stylin19a]

specially since Rachel Dolezal went to Howard

[LouAvul]

In other words, since it is the case that blacks have gained equal opportunity (by demanding superiority and preferential treatment), it's time for them to start producing. Maybe blacks in education receive a disproportionate amount of discipline, not because of racism, but because that many blacks are troublemakers.

Any Secretary of Education is going to have a hard time making the black community come down to earth.

[jch10]

What’s wrong with that?

[FlingWingFlyer]

They’ll get over it.

[nuke_road_warrior]

“Historically” Black colleges, because after the the Civil War there was almost no opportunity for education of the newly freed slaves, let alone at the college level. Many colleges were established to meet the enormous demand for education among the former slaves. Even in the northern states, Black students were not allowed to attend, so the Black colleges were the only option for Black’s to gain a college level education. Racial discrimination for schools officially ended wth Brown v. Board of Education, and the Civil Rights act of 1964. Therefore, the Black colleges became “Historically” Black colleges, although the student body remain mostly black by choice.

[DoodleDawg]

"HBCUs are real pioneers when it comes to school choice," she said. "They are living proof that when more options are provided to students, they are afforded greater access and greater quality. Their success has shown that more options help students flourish."

Well that was kind of dumb.