Duncan's Katrina Remarks Spark Debate in New Orleans

Secretary apologizes for saying storm was "best thing" for school system.

By Mary Ann Zehr

U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan’s recent remarks about a connection between Hurricane Katrina and school reform in New Orleans have focused new attention on the schools there and drawn divergent reactions from the local education community.

Mr. Duncan apologized last week for saying in an interview Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader aired Jan. 31 that “the best thing that happened to the education system in New Orleans was Hurricane Katrina.”

“It was a dumb thing to say,” Mr. Duncan said Feb. 2 on the “Morning...

This article is available to subscribers only.

To keep reading this article and more, subscribe now or purchase this article.

Already have an account? Please login.

Subscribe to Education Week and Save

Get a full year and save up to 45%!

Premium Online + Print

37 issues + Online Access
$89

You Save 45%

SUBSCRIBE NOW

(See details.)

Premium Online

12 Months Online Access
$74

You Save 38%

SUBSCRIBE NOW

(See details.)

Most Popular Stories

Viewed

Emailed

Recommended

Commented

Sponsored Whitepapers

• E-Policy Essentials for Schools, Write a Definitive Acceptable Use Policy

• Math Intervention - From Best Practice to Next Practice

• Motivation & Personalization: Middle School Math

• Teaching Self-Regulation Skills to Close the Income-Based Achievement Gap

• Can response systems improve learning outcomes?

• Unique Challenges Facing K-12 IT Professionals

• 10 Steps for Migrating Curriculum to Common Core

• The Educational Promise of Social Media

• Broad Knowledge Drives Literacy

• Using Collaboration to Impact Teaching & Learning

• Data Systems That Help Schools Make a Difference

• Great Books Programs Fit the CCSS

MORE EDUCATION JOBS >>
Post a Job >>