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U.S. Education Mediocre: Secretary
The United States Education Secretary, Arne Duncan, recently gave a speech at Columbia University’s Teacher’s College in which he criticized the state of education in our country. As United States Education Secretary, Duncan is responsible for the operation of the United States Department of Education.
In his speech, Duncan referred to many education programs in the United States as “mediocre” and stated that our country needs to see wide educational reform. Included in his speech was a prediction that within the next five years, the United States will be required to prepare more as many as one million new teachers to keep up with demand.
Duncan also condemned the current method of teacher and educator training in the United States. Since being appointed Secretary of Education by President Barack Obama on January 21, 2009, Duncan said he has encountered numerous educator sin our country who have expressed disappointment over their lack of practical training in college.
These educators particularly complained about a lack of training with financially disadvantaged youth and problem students. The United States Department of Education currently has a budget of $68.6 billion. The department of education was established in 1979 by President Jimmy Carter, but did not begin operating until May 4, 1980. Among the reasons the Department of Education was created were to enforce privacy and civil rights laws while generating money for education.
Education is a serious issue. The recession has forced government at the federal, state and local levels to cut funding and services.
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