Students concerned about grizzly bear attacks at the public schools they attend should be pleased to know that the next secretary of education took a firm stance on combating this problem.

On the other hand, students concerned about the quality of their education should be troubled about the next secretary of education’s lack of knowledge on several key issues.

Betsy DeVos, President Trump’s nominee for secretary of the Department of Education, faced tough questions during her Senate confirmation hearing on Jan. 17. Since the hearing, many have raised questions regarding her qualifications to serve as the head of the Department of Education.

The president of the National Education Association, Lily Eskelsen Garcia, described DeVos as “dangerously unqualified and lacks the experience we should all demand in America’s secretary of education,” according to a Jan. 17 NEA press release.

Hearing DeVos’s responses to questions posed by various senators, I was deeply disturbed by the answers, or lack of answers, she provided. These are not political issues. These are serious issues that will affect everyone seeking an education.

Soft stance on guns in schools

Regarding guns in schools, DeVos was asked by Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut whether she believes guns should be in or around schools. DeVos replied that it is an issue best left for the states to decide.

Murphy was visibly taken aback by her refusal to unequivocally state that guns have no place in schools, according to the televised footage of the hearing. DeVos referenced Wyoming Sen. Mike Enzi’s description of a school in Wyoming that has fencing around it to ward off grizzly bears. She used this example as a reason to justify why we may need guns in schools.

A Wapiti Elementary School representative, the school Enzi referenced, said they do not have weapons on school property to protect staff and students from grizzly bears, according to a Jan. 18 CNN article.

Regardless of grizzly bears, guns do not belong in schools because they compromise the safety of students and faculty. DeVos’s refusal to agree with that assessment is puzzling. Combating wildlife is not a valid justification for allowing guns in schools.

Addressing sexual assault

DeVos was asked if she would commit to upholding Title IX guidance in regards to sexual assault on college campuses. While she said sexual assault is a problem, she also said it is premature to commit to upholding the current guidelines for college campuses if she is confirmed for this position.

Karen Baker, NIU’s associate vice president and Title IX coordinator for Affirmative Action and Equity Compliance, said DeVos’s response was unfortunate.

“I would hope that she spends some time understanding the work that has been done, the protections that have been afforded, the education and guidance that has been delivered to our college campuses in an area that requires additional oversight and attention,” said Baker.

Support for students with disabilities

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act is a law that governs the resources and services provided to students with disabilities, according to the Department of Education’s website.

Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia asked DeVos if she thinks schools that receive federal funds should be required to comply with IDEA regulations. DeVos said it is an issue best left for the states to decide. Kaine said if IDEA regulations are not enforced, certain states could vary in the quality of services provided to students with disabilities.

“It’s a federal law, so it can’t necessarily be left to states…it needs to be equitably applied to all students across the nation,” said Debra Miller, director of the NIU Disability Resource Center. “It’s been around for a long time… It’s really the first piece of legislation that dictated…that students with disabilities [have] a right to an education.”

Her responses to the aforementioned issues left me wondering why President Trump thinks she is the best candidate to lead our education department.

During the hearing, Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont asked DeVos if she feels she would have been nominated for this position had she not made millions in contributions to the Republican Party over the years. I, too, am left wondering what role her family’s wealth, and their willingness to share that wealth with the Republican Party, played in her nomination for a position she seems grossly unprepared for.

I’m all for “draining the swamp” and infusing new blood into our government, however, not at the expense of having knowledgeable individuals with the necessary experience to oversee such important functions in our government. I’m concerned about the future of our education system with DeVos at the helm of that department. I hope all Republican senators realize the concerns many of us share and decline confirming DeVos to a role she is unsuited for.