Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.) is sharing her reaction to U.S. Department of Education Secretary Betsy DeVos’ stance on reopening schools amid the surge in coronavirus cases.
The Democratic representative took to Twitter on Sunday with a retweet of DeVos’ latest interview and included a scathing message directed to DeVos.
Despite the interview, Pressley was convinced DeVos has “no plan” to effectively reopen schools as teachers and parents face apprehension sending their children back to schools.
“[Betsy DeVos] you have no plan. Teachers, kids and parents are fearing for their lives,” Pressley tweeted.
Pressley also slammed DeVos as she suggested the education secretary is focusing on “profits over people.” She also expressed her level of distrust for DeVos.
She added, “You point to a private sector that has put profits over people and claimed the lives of thousands of essential workers. I wouldn’t trust you to care for a house plant let alone my child.”
.@BetsyDeVosED you have no plan. Teachers, kids and parents are fearing for their lives. You point to a private sector that has put profits over people and claimed the lives of thousands of essential workers. I wouldn’t trust you to care for a house plant let alone my child. https://t.co/Qs0Z7gCnMo
— Ayanna Pressley (@AyannaPressley) July 12, 2020
Pressley’s tweet came shortly after DeVos’ appearance on CNN’s “State of the Union” where she was interviewed by host Dana Bash. The two went back and forth over the debate about reopening schools.
Throughout the interview, DeVos spoke on her and President Donald Trump’s push to reopen schools. DeVos doubled down on her argument that schools should reopen.
“What we’re saying is that kids need to be back in school and that school leaders across the country need to be making plans to do just that,” DeVos said.
She continued, “There’s going to be the exception to the rule, but the rule should be that kids go back to school this fall. Where there are little flare-ups or hot spots, that can be dealt with on a school-by-school or a case-by-case basis.”
However, Bash argued that reopening schools is not a one-size-fits-all initiative.
See the full interview below:
Despite DeVos’ claims about the YMCA studies that have been conducted — saying there “has not been high instances of viral spread in those situations” — the state of Georgia made headlines recently due to a coronavirus outbreak rising among children at a YMCA youth camp.
A total of 85 of out 362 attendees — ranging from age 7-14 — and 118 camp employees, aged 16-22, tested positive for the virus.
In June, the YMCA of Metro Atlanta announced the closing of the camp after one employee tested positive for coronavirus.
As of Monday morning, there are more than 3.4 million confirmed coronavirus cases in the United States.