Well, we now know she made the cut, Dan. Thank you VP Pence! I have a few thoughts: First of all, before anyone opines on and can profoundly influence educational policy, they really should know what it's like to be in a classroom in a meaningful way. And by that I mean they should know what it's like to manage 25-30 students, of varying levels of proficiency, and all the while teaching more than one subject. I have reading, writing, math and social studies to contend with each day. I do envy those teachers in the upper grades who specialize in one subject. If I had only known...

If I were Ms. DeVos, at a minimum, I would spend time as a substitute teacher in a variety of grades and in a variety of settings (urban, rural, suburban). This would be such an eye-opener and would provide her with invaluable insight into the challenges that both students and teachers face. It's not difficult to get work as a substitute teacher.

Now, given that charter schools seem to be her focus, I have a few thoughts. In general, I have no problem with the states establishing charter schools. Let's see what really works. I do think we need oversight of course. I am however concerned with the effect that fewer educational dollars would have on the related public schools. I'm also dead set against public dollars being spent on religious instruction. That seems to be an area where I'd have a real problem with the DeVos agenda. I don't budge on church/state separation. No surprise there from me, huh?

It's important to remember that traditionally the Feds fund very little of elementary and secondary education. I think it's currently about 8%. Still, we know with No Child Left Behind, and the more recent, Race To The Top (talk about lofty goals that won't be met anytime soon), the Feds do have substantial influence.

I didn't address the teacher union issue, Dan, but rest assured I have thoughts, and they're not uniformly pro- union (though in the interest of full disclosure, I am a union member).

Peter T.