The First Day of my FIQWS class was very engaging and appealing as Ms. K had passed around two images containing valuable and substantial meanings. After interpreting both the painting and the political cartoon, initially they both indirectly appeared similar as presented, however upon closer observation, they are in fact dissimilar—each containing different connotations and implications. The painting, “The Problem We All Live With” is inhabited through the whole concept and conflict of racism, it was morally made for the purpose of experiencing what Ruby Bridges faces as an innocent 9-year-old African American girl going to an all-white school and desiring an education. The Political Cartoon,  “Education Secretary Betsy Devos” implemented hatred towards Devos due to her actions and ideas brought about by the position she holds. She is known for having little to no teaching or educational experience within the public education realm. In interpreting both images a question to pose would be; Why compare a child who desires education to a woman who is mishandling it and eliminating it?

These two images can be observed as distinctly different and unjust. Betsy Devos’ persona represents a privileged, wealthy white woman. She has surprisingly acquired her way into this position of power and authority over the US’s education system despite having no experience with the public facets of it.  Ruby Bridges is known for her courage as an American hero, desegregating an all-white public school at such a young age of nine. The political cartoon depicts DeVos being escorted by body guards into a public school. The cartoon is utilized to satirize Betsy Devos in terms of how she is walking into public schools, calling her “conservative” as she is against public education and contains lack of education. The painting, “The Problem We All Live With”, depicts Ruby Bridges being escorted into a public school as a child, as white protestors fought to prevent desegregation which was proposed by the case of Brown v. Board of Education. The reader is meant to be outraged because of the unequal comparison of adversity to DeVos concerning the themes of racism which was illustrated in Norman Rockwell’s painting to which the cartoon was based upon all together. Primarily, it could be perceived as to why these two images were to be comparable considering both DeVos and Bridges are not wanted in public schools, but both morally face different conflicts and controversy due to it.

Within both images there are considerable symbols and meanings that are indirectly presented. It is proven that racism can be utilized against a figure regardless of their age, gender, etc., and it is publicly affecting and/or changing the school system. In the “Problem We All Live With”, Innocence is shown as Ruby Bridges is dressed in all white, which is symbolic to the meaning of innocence and righteousness within one. Based on this idea it could be interpreted that Ruby Bridges is in fact innocent, and just sought for her own education as the only nine-year-old African American girl at the time. At the end of the day, she just wanted a proper education without her race having to be impacted with it. Betsy Devos faced discrimination amongst public educators due to her lack of knowledge concerning the public education world in which she is supposed to advocate for within the United States.  In the political cartoon, an anarchy symbol is depicted next to the scrawled word “Conservative” which symbolizes and refers to the idea of chaos which in this case is presentable. Her ideas and actions of trying to eliminate and break down the public system and incorporate a wide variety of charter schools, with little to no experience is repugnant, and the writers  are clearly criticizing this idea.

After personally attending a Charter School for seven years, I went to a public high school for  the following four years, therefore I have experienced these two types pf schools. Education is taking an interesting adjustment and turn in this country as Betsy Devos approaches to change the school system, developing a wider variety of charter schools than public schools. Having personal experience in both, attending a public school and a charter school, I see no comparison. They both have the same benefits; they admit anyone (race, ethnicity has no say), the education is primarily the same as well as taught the same, and it is very diverse, there is a wide variety of ethnicities and races which captivated me the most.

Overall, it is very controversial as to why these two images are beside each other to begin with. The whole idea of juxtaposition is brought up as both images are meant to seem similar to one other through initial observations, but is in fact false equivalence. The fact that the McCoy had decided to base this cartoon upon this meaningful painting and one writer had decided to compare both, presents the fact that there are different viewpoints and beliefs in this country concerning education.  McCoy’s audience is more directly targeted to those who are in the same position as DeVos,  and feel victimized. Rockwell’s audience is also addressed directly to those who are in the same position as Bridges but also towards everyone else, so we can personally see and feel what she is facing as a nine-year-old (Pathos). It is disturbing that people do not take the time out to realize how difficult it was to live at that particular time period, as now in the 21st Century, where many children have everything provided for then and do not necessarily have to fight for themselves as Ruby Bridges once did.

In the close analysis of the two images; the painting of Ruby Bridges and the Political Cartoon of Betsy DeVos, it can be proven they cannot have a contrast in meanings after all. I believe that the political cartoon should not be looked upon as just a “cartoon” but should be a wakeup call for reality proving that America is unjust comparing two dissimilar important issues. Overall, it shows me to take educational politics seriously and be more proactive in my opinions and thoughts. Considering this aspect, in my opinion both images cannot inevitably be depicted beside each other- when two images are frequently set side by side one another, they are connected in some manner and are there to be correlated upon, but this is clearly not applicable; Betsy Devos is NOT Ruby Bridges.