Pence and DeVos Advocate for Schools to Open
Yesterday, Vice President Mike Pence and Education Secretary Betsy DeVos traveled to North Carolina, visiting the Thales Academy, a private school that recently reopened for in-person learning. Pence and DeVos met with students and hosted a roundtable with the faculty. The pair also spent time in a fourth-grade classroom. Pence took his mask off halfway through the session while DeVos was not seen wearing a mask.
The visit comes as schools across the country debate how they will handle classes in the fall amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Pence and DeVos, as well as President Trump and Republicans in Congress, favor the return of in-person classes while Democrats advocate for caution. Democratic presidential nominee and former Vice President Joe Biden criticized the trip, saying that asking teachers to return without proper safety measures puts them at heavy risk.
Blake is a writer focused on non-profits and trade industries. He has told the stories of countless peacebuilders while covering international development with the nonprofit Search for Common Ground. He is a graduate of the George Washington University’s School of Media and Public Affairs.