In her recent remarks, Betsy DeVos, the Secretary of Education and a billionaire conservative benefactor, likened choosing a school for your child to selecting between Uber, Lyft, or a traditional taxi service. This comparison, however, is not just misguided; it reveals a troubling perspective on education that undermines public schools and the communities they serve.
DeVos has long advocated for “school choice,” a system that diverts tax funds from local public schools to support vouchers for private or religious institutions. She has poured substantial sums from her family’s wealth into promoting this agenda. During her address at the Brookings Institution, she stated, “How many of you arrived here today using an Uber or Lyft? Did you choose that option for its convenience instead of waiting for a taxi? Just as the traditional taxi industry resisted ridesharing, the education establishment feels threatened by school choice. Both systems have entrenched interests that push back against models that empower individuals. No one should force you to pick an Uber over a taxi, and similarly, the government shouldn’t interfere with your educational choices.”
This statement was met with swift backlash on social media, highlighting the privilege inherent in her words. Beyond the entitlement, DeVos’s analogy suggests that schools should be treated like businesses, which is a fundamentally flawed notion. Education is a public right in the United States, designed to benefit individuals and society as a whole.
As someone who spent over a decade teaching before pursuing a doctorate in education policy, I find the idea that schools should operate like businesses alarming. DeVos’s comments exhibit a concerning disregard for the vital role that public education plays in our democracy and communities.
Here’s why her comparison is not only incorrect but detrimental to schools, educators, and most importantly, children:
- The Stakes Are Much Higher
Choosing a school is not akin to selecting a taxi service. If you pick the wrong cab, the worst that can happen is a bad ride. However, a poor choice in education can have lifelong consequences for a child. We must strive for excellence in all public schools, ensuring that standards and accountability apply not only to public institutions but also to private and religious schools that receive taxpayer funds—a point DeVos has historically resisted. - Teachers Aren’t Just Service Providers
DeVos has previously demonstrated a lack of respect for educators, reducing them to the status of low-paid drivers in her analogy. In reality, teachers are highly trained professionals, often with advanced degrees, dedicated to nurturing the minds of our youth. - Education is Not About Profit
Education should serve all children as a public good. In the business world, competition may weed out poorly performing companies, but in the realm of education, this can leave the most vulnerable children—those in underfunded public schools—with no options. As noted by a moderator at the event, “In a market where public schools rely on local property taxes, unregulated competition can leave impoverished families with no choices.” - It’s About Relationships and Humanity
The purpose of a business is profit; the mission of schools is to foster community and cultivate productive, creative young individuals. Educators must navigate the complex, emotional realities of their students’ lives—realities that cannot be quantified by standardized tests. Teachers help students learn critical thinking, empathy, and how to engage with the world. - Questionable Effectiveness of DeVos’s School Choice Programs
In Michigan, where DeVos’s policies have taken root, a significant study revealed that students in voucher programs perform no better than their peers in public schools.
Parents must resist using our children as experiments. A good education should not be a matter of “shopping” around. We know what works: effective teachers, well-funded schools, and a society that cherishes public education as essential to democracy itself.
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Summary:
Betsy DeVos’s analogy of choosing schools to selecting ridesharing services minimizes the significant role education plays in society. Treating schools like businesses undermines public education’s mission, which is to serve all children and foster community. We must focus on creating excellent educational environments instead of allowing market forces to dictate our children’s futures.