Arne Duncan "teachers in America often come from the bottom of the academic barrel"

[Flatulo]

36. I attended the shittiest high school in a rather shitty city. It was run-down and had fewer

graduates than the other three schools. The only notable achievement we had was an excellent hockey team, mostly because they could beat the shit out of the other teams. The school closed a few years after I graduated.

I got out of that city and moved to a town outside of Boston. Night and day difference. We have very high tax rates, but our schools are excellent and 90-something percent go on to college.

I didn't say that in every school there are 10 shitty teachers for every good one. I said in my high school. It was just a dumping ground for both teachers and students. Most of my teachers were in their seventies and had absolutely no rapport with the kids. They'd stand there in front of the class reading from the textbook.

Why feel insulted? I'm a mechanical engineer, and trust me, there are far more mediocre ones than excellent ones. I don't find it insulting to have this pointed out. It's not a personal attack, just an observation.