DeVos Upstaged by NBA Star in Visit With Florida Shooting Survivors, Criticized After Cutting Press Conference Short
It isn鈥檛 hard to believe a professional athlete is more popular with teenagers than a Cabinet secretary.
That unhappy comparison fell Wednesday to Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, whose visit to Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School was marked by criticism from students, an aborted press conference, and a stark comparison to the star power and warm reception enjoyed by NBA player Dwyane Wade, who visited shortly afterward.
DeVos and Wade visited the Parkland, Florida, school as full-day classes resumed for the first time since 17 people were killed on February 14 and the same day a Florida grand jury for the massacre.
Wade, who has played for the Miami Heat all but two seasons in his 15-year career, dedicated the rest of the season to Joaquin Oliver, one of the shooting victims, who was buried in a Wade jersey. He has praised the Parkland students鈥 advocacy, who are affected by grinding day-to-day gun violence.
One student on Twitter said Wade鈥檚 visit was the 鈥済reatest moment of my life,鈥 and a teacher called it 鈥渁 real bright spot for our kids,鈥 .
https://twitter.com/MrsJMSD/status/971428510928637953
DeVos, on the other hand, was distinctly less well received, particularly among Parkland students who have become vocal advocates for increased gun control.
Some students panned the visit when it was announced last night. One student Wednesday that DeVos 鈥渃ame to my school, talked to three people, and pet a dog.鈥 (DeVos in a press conference mentioned therapy dogs at school to help grieving students.)
The school visit itself was closed to the press 鈥渙ut of respect for the students and faculty who are returning to their first full day back in the classroom,鈥 the Education Department said Tuesday evening.
Some students also said DeVos wouldn鈥檛 take questions from student journalists.
The Education Department released Wednesday afternoon, saying the secretary met with teachers, students, and administrators; talked with guidance counselors; and laid a wreath on the fence outside the building. She also visited a 鈥減ersonalization course鈥 to talk with students and teachers working on individual projects.
A school newspaper reporter, broadcasting student, and yearbook photographer 鈥渁ccompanied the secretary throughout the visit,鈥 the department said.
鈥淭he program for the visit was developed in conjunction with the requests and recommendations of [the school鈥檚 principal] to provide minimal disruption on students鈥 first full day back in the school,鈥 officials added.
DeVos held a very brief press conference after the closed school visit, but even that was not without incident.
She said there has been 鈥渁n oversimplification and a mischaracterization鈥 around the issue of arming teachers on campus, which she has backed in the past. Adults carrying weapons should be held to high standards and trainings, and armed educators shouldn鈥檛 be required of all communities. Video below:
https://twitter.com/JimLaPorta/status/971405755596156928
The issue didn鈥檛 come up in conversations with students, DeVos told reporters.
DeVos offered few details on what gun control or school safety measures she would support, and she walked out on a question about specifics, saying there would be 鈥渕ore on that in the future.鈥
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