Duncan: Education is 'civil rights issue of our generation'

[Confederate Kahanist]

http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=123844


In a television interview that aired over the weekend, Duncan went on to claim that "wealthy folks have had a choice of two, three, four great schools to go to for – for centuries."

"Poor folks often have had one school to go to, one choice – and often, frankly, that's not been a good one," he said, speaking on TV One's "Washington Watch With Roland Martin."

"We have to educate our way to a better economy," said Duncan. "I’m – I’m absolutely convinced education is the civil rights issue of our generation. You’re not free – if you can ride the front of the bus, but you can't read, you’re not free. You’re still in shackles."

Duncan's characterization of choices of "great schools" for "wealthy folks" for centuries is not accurate.

High schools largely did not exist on the public level until the 20th century. Universities in the early 20th century were available to those of differing economic backgrounds, but the enrollment rates were low because most students were not prepared for them, since most did not attend high school.

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The Morrill Acts of 1862 and 1890 provided federal financial support to state universities. Also, states granted federal land to establish colleges and institutions of higher learning.

As the 20th century progressed, most states enacted laws making education required until the age of 16. By 1918 all states passed laws requiring children to attend elementary school.

Duncan's interview made headlines for another comment he made. Duncan called Hurricane Katrina "the best thing that happened to the education system in New Orleans" because it forced the community to take steps to improve low-performing public schools.

In a statement e-mailed to the Washington Post, Duncan clarified his remarks: "As I heard repeatedly during my visits to New Orleans, for whatever reason, it took the devastating tragedy of the hurricane to wake up the community to demand more and expect better for their children."

Paul G. Vallas, superintendent of the Recovery School District in Louisiana, which oversees most of the city's public schools, told the Post that he had "no problem" with Duncan's comments about the hurricane and education.

"Local people have said that time and time again," Vallas said. "He's not saying hurricanes are good things. … What he's saying is that people were not serious about school reform (before the hurricane struck), and if they were serious, there wasn't any progress being made. And post-Katrina, there is."

Duncan spoke at event with Ayers

WND reported Duncan keynoted an education reform seminar in October in which William Ayers was a major speaker and participant.

Ayers, a founder of the radical Weather Underground group in the Vietnam era, is a proponent of what he called "education justice." Like Duncan's comments yesterday, Ayers also has written numerous times that he sees education reform as a civil rights issue. Both Duncan and Ayers have worked on education reform projects in Chicago and have held public debates with each other about reform projects.

"All of us in Chicago are grateful to Ayers and [Mike Klonsky] for their work with small schools in our city and their continuing commitment to education," Duncan wrote in a 2006 journal article obtained by WND. In that journal article, Duncan took Ayers to task for criticizing an education reform project Duncan had been working on.

At an October convention for the Renaissance Group, Duncan and Ayers both discussed their education initiatives. The Renaissance Group defines itself on its website as "a proactive force for the improvement and reform of education, locally, regionally and nationally."

Michael J. Giovannetti, executive director of the Renaissance Group, told WND in an interview that Duncan was fully aware of all conference speakers, including Ayers, and that the two diplomats had no problem speaking at the conference at which the unrepentant radical also was a presenter.

"They had no problem whatsoever," said Giovannetti. "Everyone had the agenda and knew who was on the agenda. No issue came up with regard to Ayers speaking."

Giovannetti praised Ayers as "one of most outstanding professionals in education."

"He is a model of what every teacher should be," continued Giovannetti.

With additional research by Brenda J. Elliott