Rate Arne Duncan

[Dinger]

1= poor, 10 = "perfect."

[FrenchieCat]

1. I'd like to think before I speak....Just so that I know what I am talking about.

As opposed to being influenced by those who have decided not to like him or to like him for whatever their reasons.

You know how easy it is to run with soundbytes, disinformation, partial information, as well as omission.

For the time being, what I do know is that funding for education went from 46 billion dollars in funding in 2009 (based on Bush's budget) to $127.8 billion in 2010 (including stimulus allocation).

I also know that of the new additional billions, a small sliver, 4.3 Billion is going to be used in a program to attempt to stir innovation and creativity into the notion of education....
That sounds good too....as we won't want to simply throw money at the schools, but want to make sure as to what really works, what could work better, and what doesn't work at all.

So I think this is a work in progress, kinda of like the Obama presidency; too soon to make any kind of absolute judgement one way or the other. In fact, it is harder to tell with Mr. Duncan than it is with Obama....cause Obama has already well started, while Duncan is just now getting started.

[Dinger]

3. Thank You For Your Reply Frenchie

It looks like Duncan and Obama want a dialog, and that's good. I do not agree on much of Arne Duncan's education policy, however, we'll see how much he takes to heart the concerns of educators everywhere. I am waiting, patiently (sort of).

[Mass]

2. I rated 2 because I am tired to hear about a one size fits all education.

and I do not see anything that shows that Arne thinks all kids will not become engineers or scientists or mathematicians.

I do not either see anything that shows that they will start to have an education that gets out of the multiple choice testing and make learning more interesting for our kids.

I have no problem with the idea that the school year and school day are modified, but I am against the fact that a lot more time is spent teaching core curriculum topics. Use the extra time to teach art, music, for sport, or for hands-on education and helping kids excel in a topic of their choice.

My kids will be soon out of k12 education (the youngest one is a Freshman, the oldest is in college), but I cannot see school continue the way it is, with all kids learning the same thing the same way at the same time and those not succeeding being seen as failures. It is not about how forming engineers and scientists. It is about how to help kids becoming successful adults.

In other words, I would like a more child centered school rather than a curriculum centered school.

This said, my parents were teachers and I have nothing against teachers. I know they cannot do a lot without money and that the best of them stretch the dollars to the limit of possible to be wonderful teachers. I also know that sometimes the administration is in the way. But I am very frightened by where the US school systems are going, though I do not think it is the teachers fault.

[Dinger]

4. Excellent Reply, Thank You

I really wish a more comprehensive approach to education policy was being taken with this administration. If Arne Duncan and President Obama just listen to "make it look good," and then do what they want anyway, well that just wouldn't be cool. It could be interpreted by some as meaning "we gladly take your votes, but after that, you're on your own."

[FrenchieCat]

5. Well, it looks like the AFT are going to be patient on this,

rather than to coming to conclusion before the fact....considering the 30 days to make comments.
http://www.aft.org/news/2009/racetothetop.htm

I don't see OBama as someone who will listen to make it look good, as that is not what he has done to date. and again, I don't see the dollars that would confirm that Obama is about to lurch in some crazy direction that won't benefit anyone. He really just isn't that stupid, because I know that he cares too much to harm education in the way that some are attempting to describe.

So, I'm looking at money to fund education that Obama has designated, and according to many teacher's I've talk with, that's always been the top complain by most interested in doing education right; no money.

[janx]

6. I don't know enough about Duncan's positions to make a judgment,

but I do know enough to realize that a major overhaul is in order, and it seems to me that this is what Duncan is advocating.

Charter schools interest me. There are some mediocre ones and some very good ones, based on what I've seen re incoming college freshmen.

[dsc]

7. I give him a 5

On the merit pay and charter school stuff he gets a 1 but on gay rights he gets a 9 for his direct championing of an anti bullying bill as well as his appointment of the head of GLESN which averages to a 5.