Obama names Duncan new secretary of education

Source: Xinhua | 12-17-2008 08:03

WASHINGTON, Dec. 16 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President-elect Barack Obama named on Tuesday Arne Duncan, the current chief executive officer of the Chicago Public Schools, as the next secretary of education.

U.S. President-elect Barack Obama (R) listens to Chicago Public Schools Chief Arne Duncan during a news conference at the Dodge Renaissance Academy in Chicago December 16, 2008. Obama named on Tuesday Duncan as the next secretary of education.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

Unlike the location of Obama's previous nominations, he present his education secretary choice to media at Dodge Renaissance Academy, one of the schools Duncan shut and then reopened on Chicago's West Side.

"With his leadership, I am confident that together, we will bring our education system -- and our economy -- into the 21st century, and give all our kids the chance to succeed," Obama told the press.

Obama noted the government's years of failure to act on the U.S. education problems," stuck in the same tired debates that have stymied our progress and left schools and parents to fend for themselves: Democrat versus Republican; vouchers versus the status quo; more money versus more reform -- all along failing to acknowledge that both sides have good ideas and good intentions."

Despite having not been a teacher ever, Duncan, 44, was considered having extensive experience in educational policy and management.