I am a product of public school. At my high school, in New Jersey, we didn’t have iPads or laptops in class. We had pep rallies where the whole school would come together and cheer on our sports teams. We had students go to the Naval Academy, Air Force Academy and win national competitions for writing, color guard and everything in between.

The newly confirmed Secretary of Education Betsy Devos, a billionaire, thinks that schools that lack money lack students who are capable. Instead of allocating more funds to public schools, Devos wants to push students into charter schools and private schools with a voucher program.

Charter schools are government funded, yet operate independently from the federal government. Their teachers do not need the same qualifications that public school teachers do, and they can budget their money however they choose with no further jurisdiction. Many states, including Texas, are now looking at tax-credit voucher programs where the voucher given to families depends on their income.

If enough students attend charter schools, where there’s no regulation on what students are taught or who they’re taught by, public schools will crumble and not receive adequate funding. Schools will become businesses, for-profit, and work to attract students instead of working to fulfill students.

Private schools have a constant flow of money coming from those who can afford to attend. Why should the government take part in funding schools that do not need it? If public schools were given enough funding, there would be no reason for students to want to attend private schools.

Devos speaks about public education like it’s nothing more than poor kids struggling for pencils and books. She has demonstrated her lack of knowledge and background in education dozens of times, but she was still nominated in the senate with a historical tie-breaking vote by Vice President Mike Pence.

The Trump administration has referred to “failing government schools” as if the teachers and students at public schools don’t work hard and achieve success. Students and teachers have taken their disappointment to the streets with protests and letters and phone calls to their representatives denouncing Devos, the same way she has denounced us.

If public schools do not survive, neither will students like me. The 91 percent of students who attend public school deserve better than Devos. Americans deserve better, future generations deserve better and everyone deserves the opportunity to obtain a proper education.