Education Secretary Betsy DeVos offered words of encouragement Wednesday to students and staff at the site of last month’s school shooting in Parkland, Florida, but not everyone was glad to see her.
A few students took to social media beforehand to register their disgust with her visit to Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, where a gunman opened fire Feb. 14, killing 17 and wounding 17.
Good thing I was already planning on sleeping in tomorrow https://t.co/Oy6ALcDHLZ
— Emma González (@Emma4Change) March 7, 2018
Literally no one asked for this https://t.co/79A54IbIht
— Sarah Chadwick// #NEVERAGAIN (@sarahchad_) March 7, 2018
Ms. DeVos, meanwhile, praised students who have become politically active since the tragedy.
“I give a lot of credit to the students here who have found their voices and encourage them to continue to speak out about finding those solutions and having adults pay attention,” said Ms. DeVos at a press briefing afterward. “They have a lot of important and worthwhile things to say.”
The visit, which coincided with the first full day of class since the shooting, included discussions with students, teachers and guidance counselors, according to the Education Department.
Without offering specifics, Ms. DeVos said that she was dedicated to finding “solutions that we can find common ground on.”
“We are committed not only to listening but to action,” she said. “We know that there are many common solutions that we can find common ground on, and we are committed to furthering and advancing those things that are going to help ensure that students like these and all those across the country are going to have the opportunity to learn in safe environments.”
She was accompanied by Principal Ty Thompson, Assistant Principal Denise Reed and Broward County Schools Superintendent Robert W. Runcie.
Also arriving on campus Wednesday was NBA star Dwyane Wade, who previously dedicated the rest of his season to one of the murdered students, 17-year-old Joaquin Oliver, a Wade fan buried in his Miami Heat replica jersey.
When @DwyaneWade pulls up to your school! pic.twitter.com/tc6W7xd7i1
— Chad Williams (@chad_williams05) March 7, 2018
While he received a far more enthusiastic reception than did Ms. DeVos, at least one Parkland student said he appreciated her visit.
I did, actually. @BetsyDeVosED @BetsyDeVos is an American patriot and is the Sec. of EDUCATION which means she is a great person to talk with about SCHOOL safety. #MSDStrong #NeverAgain https://t.co/uzGDB8Y5Tj
— Kyle Kashuv (@KyleKashuv) March 7, 2018
I find it funny how everyone’s upset at @BetsyDeVosED. If she is part of the “issue” then meeting with her should be something positive and paramount to change. If she’s not, then why show her such immense disrespect? #MSDStrong
— Kyle Kashuv (@KyleKashuv) March 7, 2018
• Valerie Richardson can be reached at vrichardson@washingtontimes.com.
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