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Close Department of Education?

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    Education Secretary Arne Duncan responds to GOP remarks

  • Duration 6:19
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Going to be there the president when that happens in just a few hours that we allow commend secretary of education Arnie Duncan he's coming to us from DC today and -- mr.

secretary nice Zito.

Good at those aspects of us the opportunity I have a bit of a confession.

I have a daughter of a public school teacher.

My mom has -- for forty years and I realize in preparing for this interview that I actually don't know a lot about the Department of Education.

And you know I'd love idea -- that there are a lot of criticisms.

Over the Department of Education right now so let's just get straight to it I'm gonna rent some sound from the Republicans criticizing the Department of Education on get your reactionary right that's -- -- -- I -- Am going to promise to educate the abolishment of the federal Department of Education.

What I would do is present United States.

His pass a mother of all repeal bills on education I would take the entire federal education law.

Repeal it.

Then I would go over to the Department of Education I turn out the lights I'd lock the door and -- off -- back.

You need to dramatically shrink the federal Department of Education get rid of virtually all of -- regulations.

Right that's -- side finance why do we need the Department of Education in your mind.

Well I think we all have to work together -- -- -- -- -- -- how to spell out -- watching the Republican debates but I would feel great bipartisan relationships with governors and mayors across this country.

And I've been actually very self critical other part of education myself.

We have to -- the compliance our business we have to -- the engine of innovation we have other countries that out educate us today.

Over the past two and a half years you see the transformation 44 states adopting much more rigorous standards college and -- -- and it's so I think the appropriate role.

Far agency is to drive reform to drive innovation to support courageous work at the local level if -- -- in a bipartisan way education has to go way beyond politics way beyond ideology.

We have to educate a way to better economy that we all have to work together to federal at the state and most importantly.

At the local level the work that your mom and so many.

Hundreds of thousands millions of teachers do in classrooms around the country that's what this is about.

My mom appreciates the shout out I'm sure she's enjoying her first year ever have retirements.

A navy -- have some time to watch television who -- you know we I was looking at some of the spending for the department of education and and this fiscal year.

Seventy billion dollars is spending and it's gone up over the last ten years and there's been a few different programs from two different administrations -- so talk to us about the money there.

I think we need to do we need more money whereas at seventy billion dollars going to or are are we too bloated in the department of education and we should scale down.

I think we have to that we have to continue to invest in education is an investment not an expense.

We can't just invest in the status Kobe have to drive reform.

But generally -- cradle to career are continual sort tried to make a huge investment in early childhood education if we get our babies off to a great start.

-- to kindergarten ready to -- and -- to read that is hugely important.

As you know -- given a very very strong reform agenda K to twelve.

We have to make sure we're reducing dropout rates increasing graduation rates and our students graduate from high school college and career ready.

And ultimately get to make sure college is accessible and affordable a big piece that budget is increasing pell grants so that working -- scams that start -- have the opportunity to send their sons and daughters to college and that's critically important so we have to continue to invest but in a vision of reform.

And we have to make sure we can -- lead the world.

And college graduates the president's challenge us to do this.

Our country's flat -- while the cubs have passed us by those countries that out educate us today are going to out compete us tomorrow that have to -- You know it's interesting you mention is how -- -- looking at the unemployment rate is about you have a college degree your unemployment rate rang out at 4% you don't.

It's double that more than double that you mention -- making sure babies get off to a good start in your your kids Claire and Ryan are attending public school.

I as well and you have a really interesting history because you -- the superintendent of a major urban area and Chicago.

And -- in that in that position you must have at times been frustrated and I'm only assuming -- -- talk a little bit about this about the relationship between the state in the city.

Are between the federal government and the state in the city.

And you must have brought some of that into your current job to tell us a little bit about that -- see that maybe the federal government doesn't have a role and local education.

You know what -- I've said repeatedly that I with the Chicago I didn't always welcome that call from that nice man woman called to Washington.

They were always -- -- about you know a compliance issue -- bureaucratic issue they were calling about how to help you reduce my job -- -- How to help me -- first -- second third graders how to read.

If so we worked very very hard to become a much better partner to states and districts.

-- around the country on a weekly basis spending time in 234 schools every single week.

And I think help we've seen again on a bipartisan basis I've been a much better partner -- to the real needs and in communities trying to empower them.

The president announced last week.

We want to fix No Child Left Behind want to provide waivers.

Frankly get Washington out of the way.

Hold states accountable to high bar but give them a lot more room to move -- to innovate to be much more flexible.

We can't Michael Mann is 95000 schools and Washington have no interest in doing that.

We -- -- great teachers great principals great superintendents to help their children for -- their real academic and social potential.

It says indices -- less strings attached some of that that federal money through that program well RD we're gonna have the -- Atkins and at a time that.

I it is what you -- -- one proposal I have for you and related to education and you you the president play a lot of pickup basketball games.

And I think the ultimate element of surprise next time around would be a Fox News anchor coming off the bench with a good three point shot -- what did you think about that.

And you know what I'm available -- you when you're ready let me know.

Ari -- Duncan thank you very much told authorities talking humor about some of these issues around education sir thank you.

Thanks so much have a great day now uliassi as well about what you heard at the Republican debate.

And is this is by the way unscientific and you can tell by the results John take a look at these results we asked them hey would you I wanna keep the Department of Education good idea bad idea.

About 96% of our viewers said a good idea -- -- and yet eliminates represented a bad idea.

It could be three people responding that also let this keep that in mind for what it's worth and not scientific but that's pretty interest and take there.

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