Introduction
Politics is an essential part of our life. People need the departments which would govern them, and every country has such. The political structures make our life easier, as they take up the difficulties of governing the state. Political structure has many different spheres, but today we are going to talk about education. A new president Barack Obama makes up his government and it touches, of course, the department of education.
Main body
A new Secretary of Education is Arne Duncan. He was born on the 6th of November, 1964. He graduated magna cum laude from Harvard and sits on the Harvard Board of Overseers. He has experience of governing the Chicago Public Schools where he was a chief executive and where he “has earned a solid reputation for confronting pressing issues in public education, like how to raise teacher quality, how to transform weak schools and when to shutter those that are irredeemably failing” (Dillon 2008).
Duncan also directed the Ariel Education Initiative, a philanthropic effort with a small staff that seeks to create better schooling opportunities for poor children on the South Side of Chicago. He was director of magnet schools and deputy chief of staff to the Chicago schools chief, Paul G. Vallas, from 1998 to 2001.” (Dillon 2008).
He did much for those establishments and he was elected as the Secretary of Education for his merits. So, his school experience and governing skills will help him during his work in the Department of Education.
Sport plays an important role in Duncan’s life. He was a professional basketball player from 1987 to 1991 in Australia. “He and President Obama have played pickup basketball games together in Chicago since they met in the early 1990s through Michelle Obama’s brother” (Dillon 2008), and made a good acquaintance since that time.
As it was said, Arne Duncan is the United States Secretary of Education from the 20th of January, 2009.
Confirmation hearings were held by Senator Edward M. Kennedy the Secretary of Education Arne Duncan. Arne Duncan announced to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions his plans in the sphere of education. He said in his speech:
First, we must invest in early childhood education… Second, we know that teacher quality must be addressed on many levels: recruitment, preparation, retention, and compensation… Third, we know that only about 70 percent of high school students graduate… Fourth, we must make sure that our citizens have the means and the encouragement to aim for education and training beyond high school. (Sweet 2009).
Arne Duncan in his program makes notice of these three points. He emphasizes the necessity of paying much attention to kindergartens and parents’ support, especially if they work and have small children. The second point touches on the “teaching residency programs” (Sweet 2009), which work if to take into consideration Duncan’s experience in Chicago school. The other point is the education of teachers, lifting the level of their knowledge. One more problem is higher education. It becomes a problem as the level of America higher education among others countries in High School gradation is very low now, but some time ago America was the leader in this branch. Students of America should strictly know that their work and efforts will be rewarded and encouraged financially.
Arne Duncan talks about changes in the sphere of education which can take the level of education to a new higher stage.
Talking to the point, I agree that our education needs changes. It is especially a topic for discussion dealing with children. As education is very important nowadays, modern changes are needed. The same deals with teachers’ education. I do not want to put into question their knowledge and abilities, but the world changes, appear new ways of teaching. As it was said, the new ways of teaching appear, and it is good, as it says about the developing and improving the education. It is not a problem, but still, children are changing, and teachers should look for new ways of teaching them. The appearance of computers shows the importance of their using in education.
Computers are more interesting than books, especially taking into consideration the Internet. You can find any information you want with the help of the Internet, to see any country and other opportunities. I do not say that teachers should not use books during their lessons, vice versa, they must be used. The use of the Internet should complement the work in class, not deputize.
It is developed a huge number of educational programs in different subjects, and their products do not stop.
Conclusion
So, education is an important part of our life. And as we know something new is always good, as it is a modern, a developed aspect. We hope that the coming of a new Secretary Arne Duncan in the Department of Education will help the country to raise the level of our education higher than it is now, that these changes would not harm, and will come only for good. If a person is educated, she has power in her head and hands. And the development of education is an essential part of modern life. Society does not stand in the same place, so all spheres of life should develop.
Works Cited
Dillon, Sam. “Arne Duncan.” The New York Times. 2008.
Sweet, Lynn. “Arne Duncan sails through confirmation hearing for Education Secretary. Duncan, Ted Kennedy statements.” The Sun-Times. 2009.