Pros and Cons: Arne Duncan

Kennedy sets confirmation hearings: Senator Edward M. Kennedy's office announced today a series of confirmation hearings on Cabinet posts under the purview of his committee.The Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee will interview former Senator Tom Daschle, President-elect Barack Obama's choice for health and human services secretary, on Jan. 8, two days after the new Congress convenes. That will be followed a day later, Politico reports, by the hearing for Representative Hilda Solis, Obama's pick for labor secretary, and on Jan. 13, by the one for Chicago schools chief Arne Duncan, Obama's selection for education secretary. Obama gets sworn in a week later. Kennedy has already signaled enthusiastic support for all three nominees. (Boston Globe)

The Early Word: Administration Preview: Though the economic crisis, along with renewed tensions in the Middle East, are likely to loom large as the curtain goes up on President-elect Barack Obama’s first 100 days, it’s not too early to take a look at the new administration’s policies on issues that have attracted fewer headlines lately, starting with education. (New York Times)

In Chicago, Duncan Seen as Collaborator: School closures, innovations in teacher, principal training mark his administration. (Education Week)

Duncan to Confront Host of Challenges at Ed. Department: The Chicago schools chief supports the No Child Left Behind Act and could bridge differing approaches to education reform. (Education Week)

Chicago School Reform Could Be a U.S. Model: At Cameron Elementary School west of downtown, most kids don't know the alphabet when they start kindergarten, nearly all are poor, and one was jumped by a gang recently, just off campus. But the school this year posted its highest reading and math scores ever -- a feat that earned cash bonuses for teachers, administrators, even janitors. (Washington Post)

Arne Duncan's Dark Years in Chicago: Progressives across the country have been disappointed in President-elect Obama's appointment of various cabinet members. As an educator, the appointment of Arne Duncan to Secretary of Education, particularly in light of Obama's rhetoric and the platform of the Democratic Party, raises significant concerns about the future of public school education. (Counterpunch)

Obama Picks a Moderate on Education. The president will ultimately decide whether to take on the teachers' unions: Barack Obama picked Arne Duncan only partly for his skills on the basketball court. As secretary of education, he will be running one of the administration's most important finesse games. The CEO of the Chicago public schools and the ultimate diplomat, Mr. Duncan rises to the rim at a moment when teachers unions are, for the first time, facing opposition within the Democratic Party from young idealists who favor education reform. (Wall Street Journal)

Duncan wrong education choice: Hailed by some as a pioneer in education reform, Arne Duncan was recently selected by President-elect Obama to be our next secretary of education. However, his track record as the CEO of Chicago Public Schools for the past seven years shows that Duncan is the wrong choice for America’s schools. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

Arne Duncan on Making the Parents Care: A bit of congressional testimony from earlier this year provides an interesting window into how Arne Duncan, President-elect Barack Obama ’s choice to be the next Education secretary, might provide a counterpoint to Obama’s thinking on how much of the schools’ success is up to the parents. (Congressional Quarterly)

Photo of Arne Duncan and Family from TheAge.com.au.