In a speech today to the NEA, the nation’s largest teacher’s union, Secretary Duncan challenged teacher unions to “think differently.” A full transcript of Secretary Duncan’s prepared remarks to the NEA is available, and a video will be posted here when it becomes available. Some choice excerpts leave little question that this is the most significant and direct challenge the status quo has ever faced from a Democratic administration:
“…let’s also be honest: school systems pay teachers billions of dollars more each year for earning PD credentials that do very little to improve the quality of teaching.”
…
“We don’t need a study to tell us that chronically under-performing schools do not have the best principals and teachers.”
…
“But if we agree that the adults in these schools are failing these children then we have to find the right people and we can’t let our rules and regulations get in the way. ”
…
“And I’m telling you as well—that when inflexible seniority and rigid tenure rules that we designed put adults ahead of children—then we are not only putting kids at risk—we’re putting the entire education system at risk.”
…
“These policies were created over the past century to protect the rights of teachers but they have produced an industrial factory model of education that treats all teachers like interchangeable widgets.”
…
“America’s teachers are yearning to be partners in reform and change. They want teaching to be a respected profession that has high standards for performance, rewards excellence, provides opportunities for advancement, and promotes real collaboration. They are tired of being demonized, blamed, and disrespected. They want to get on the train.”
…
“The President understands that the nation that out-teaches us today will out-compete us tomorrow. ”
…
“It is an economic imperative and a moral imperative. This is the civil rights issue of our generation—the fight for a quality education is about so much more than education. It’s a fight for social justice. And he’s counting on you to lead that fight.”
At times during the speech, Secretary Duncan was heckled by NEA members in the audience. Secretary Duncan’s response to hecklers: “You can boo. Just don’t throw any shoes, please.”
You wouldn’t remember what the Clinton administration said about education, but it was a pretty similar tune, actually:
http://www.issues2000.org/Celeb/Bill_Clinton_Education.htm
Actually, I am familiar with Clinton’s (and the DLC’s) positions. But there is no comparing the two eras — NCLB for all its flaws was a watershed event that for the first time truly exposed to the public how our system works (or doesn’t), with some of the most valuable elements being the publishing of disaggregated data to show the civil rights issues involved. Many would like to remember that NCLB was advocated by George Bush but it was actually as much Ted Kennedy and George Miller’s bill as it was Bush’s. Also, there was no functioning public charter sector during most of Clinton’s term.
Obama/Duncan’s rhetoric here is not the same stuff, different day — Duncan’s speech attacked tenure, seniority, limits on charters, opposition to merit pay… It was like Dick Cheney preaching gun control to the NRA. It’s a big deal. The NEA, which has already resolved to oppose any linkage between student performance and teacher evaluation, has now just passed a resolution to oppose growth in charters, days after Duncan advocated the exact opposite. It will be interesting to see if Obama and Duncan stick to their principles.