Driving Naari Programme launched in Chandigarh
TORONTO — Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne says she would welcome U.S. President Donald Trump’s education secretary to visit the province’s public schools if she chooses to reschedule a cancelled visit.
Wynne says she was looking forward to an opportunity to show Betsy DeVos a strong, publicly funded education system — even though she doesn’t agree with some of her positions.
DeVos advocates for school choice, including vouchers that allow kids to attend charter schools — which are publicly funded but privately operated — or private schools on the public dime
DeVos has also attracted protests recently for revoking a guidance that instructed colleges on how to handle sexual assault cases, saying the previous policy was unfairly skewed against those accused of assault, and for the department of education rolling back rules allowing transgender students to use school restrooms of their choice.
Ontario teachers’ unions expressed concerns about DeVos’ planned visit, which she cancelled this week the day before it was set to begin, citing scheduling issues.
The NDP called on the government to not allow DeVos to tour schools in the province — a position Wynne says she doesn’t understand.
“I don’t agree with the positions that Secretary DeVos has taken in the past, that’s true, but I think that’s all the more reason to have an opportunity to showcase what we do in our schools and how strong a publicly funded education system can be,” Wynne said Friday.
“So I honestly don’t understand why we would want to hide that under a bushel. I would think we’d want to celebrate the success of our publicly funded education system.”
