(AP Images)
The Future of American Education
President-elect Obama introduces his choice for Education Secretary and talks to kids at a school in Chicago
President-elect Barack Obama is used to taking questions from the media. But yesterday, he was grilled by an even tougher crowd: kids.
In the library at the Dodge Renaissance Academy in Chicago, 12 students ranging from first- to fourth-graders had the chance to interview Obama. They asked if he was excited about moving into the White House and about the Obamas' search for a new dog. One student wanted to know how Obama would carry on the efforts of Martin Luther King Jr.
"Dr. King used to talk about the fact that no matter what your job is, you want to do your best," Obama told the kids. "And right now your job is to learn, so when you guys are in class, you've got to make sure you're working as hard as you can."
Before meeting the students, the President-elect announced at the school that Arne Duncan was his choice for Secretary of Education. This Cabinet position is charged with improving America's schools and the way kids learn.
"For Arne, school reform isn't just a theory in a book—it's the cause of his life," Obama said. "And the results aren't just about test scores or statistics but about whether our children are developing the skills they need to compete with any worker in the world for any job."
Duncan is currently the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Chicago Public Schools. He has been in that job since 2001.
Under his leadership, elementary test scores in Chicago have gone up and the dropout rate has gone down. He has championed charter schools and closed down failing schools.
Nationally, education experts are concerned that students are falling behind those in other countries in subjects like math, reading, and science.
If the Senate confirms him, Duncan plans on improving the classroom experience for kids by embracing innovative approaches to learning and attracting new teachers. But he knows that a lot rides on the success of America's educational system.
"Whether it's fighting poverty, strengthening the economy, or promoting opportunity, education is the common thread," Duncan said. "It is the civil rights issue of our generation, and it is the one sure path to a more equal, fair, and just society."
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