Arne Duncan Flunks History
Obama’s chief educrat was bobbing and weaving this week, trying to justify why the federal government should be in the public skrool business. This from CNSNews, which querried Duncan, “The Bill of Rights says that powers not delegated to the federal government by the Constitution are reserved to the states and the people. With that in mind, Mr. Secretary, where specifically does the Constitution authorize the federal government to be involved in primary and secondary education?”
Duncan dodged the question. “We are obviously a small percent of overall funding – you know about 10 percent,” he said. “The vast majority of funding comes at the local level – state and local level. But we have a responsibility to support children who have historically not had those kinds of opportunities – disadvantaged children, poor children, homeless students, children who are English language learners and, more recently, we’ve seen a tremendous amount of reform from the department.
“We have to dramatically improve the quality of education we are providing this country and we can help to continue to reward excellence and encourage at the local level,” Duncan said.
According to the White House Office of Management and Budget, the Department of Education spent $106.9 billion in fiscal 2010.
You’d think for that amount the government could afford an education secretary who knew the Constitution and could deliver a straight answer. But then he’d, um, you know, be out of a job.
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