Jill Biden tells NOVA colleagues she's 'not a first lady', slammed over 'boutique job'
Doctor Jill Biden is going back to in-person teaching after a year of doing the job remotely due to the pandemic. But while she announced her return to the classroom for the next 13 weeks, the first lady wants people to know she will be a teacher first at the Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA), and not a first lady.
Dr Biden, who holds a doctorate in education, has reportedly been taking English composition classes at NOVA in Alexandria. The White House recently announced that she will go back to teaching in-person every Tuesday and Thursday for the next few months. This makes her the first FLOTUS to have a full time job alongside her duties at the White House. As her husband, President Joe Biden, continues to face flak over the Kabul debacle, Dr Biden is taking a backseat to focus on her job as an educator. And clearly, social media isn't too fond of the idea.
READ MORE
'Jill Biden cares': First lady's 'LOVE' blazer compared to Melania Trump's 'I don't care' jacket
Fox News host Rachel Campos-Duffy slammed for blaming Jill Biden over Afghan crisis
Dr Biden, who taught remotely last semester, is gearing to appear in front of pupils for eight hours with classes going on well after 4 pm, the Washington Post revealed. She will be surrounded by Secret Service agents while traveling to the college with a motorcade and is also reported to be teaching with a mask on. The FLOTUS will be teaching students how to write an essay in College Composition One. Her courses will also be reportedly combined with English Composition Readiness II - programs designed for students who need more help with writing than usual.
With her classes dubbed "hybrid", students are allowed to attend classes both remotely and in the classroom. But when it comes to other aspects of her teaching, the FLOTUS is not so flexible. Especially with the way she is addressed on campus. Greeting her colleagues in an email, Dr Biden informed them: "I am an English teacher at NOVA – not First Lady.” And this is not the only strictness the educator has established so far, as former students of hers have claimed what a "harsh grader" she is.
Praising her teaching abilities anonymously on Rate My Professors, a former student of Dr Biden wrote: "With all on her plate, she still puts in the time, effort, and concern for her students." Another reportedly claimed: "She has a big heart and passion for education.” Others, The Sun reports, were wary of the way she grades. “Not sure how any student can make it out of her class," the student claimed.
The first lady's stint with teaching dates back to 1976 when she first began working in the profession. Her dedication to the job runs so deep that she reportedly wanted to return to campus in January itself but her request was denied as colleges ensured there was a limited number of people on the campus. But despite her passion for the job, social media isn't quite convinced of her capabilities.
"Wonder how much taxpayers will be paying Secret Service to be with #JillBiden every day she's teaching," asked a Twitter user about the FLOTUS going back to campus. Another chimed in: "Fake doctor Jill Biden is teaching Again cause she Knows Crooked Joe Biden is Going to be Booted out of Office Soon..." Some mocked her decision, tweeting: "Ohhhh isn’t that funny. She is teaching at a college that shut down most of its doors, and no othe college will accept their credits! Good job @FLOTUS mediocre school."
Others were of the opinion that "teaching two days a week isn’t a job, it’s a scam". Some even complained that "community colleges exploit adjunct teachers. Jill Biden makes far more than colleagues who do equal work. Stop idealizing her teaching while being FLOTUS. It’s a boutique job for her."
Wonder how much taxpayers will be paying Secret Service to be with #JillBiden every day she's teaching. Or is she doing virtual?
— Merry 🇺🇸🦅 (@nona2578) September 6, 2021
Fake doctor Jill Biden is teaching Again cause she Knows Crooked Joe Biden is Going to be Booted out of Office Soon...
— BigAl56872 (@1BigAl7890) September 5, 2021
Ohhhh isn’t that funny. She is teaching at a college that shut down most of its doors, and no othe college will accept their credits! Good job @FLOTUS mediocre school.
— diamonds (@SarahBa62725120) September 5, 2021
Community colleges exploit adjunct teachers. Jill Biden makes far more than colleagues who do equal work. Stop idealizing her teaching while being FLOTUS. It’s a boutique job for her.
— Terri Nickel (@hairball50) September 4, 2021