A reader follows Secretary of Education Arne Duncan’s Twitter feed (I do not; I do not monitor him). She noticed that he often promotes commercial, for-profit vendors. Others have noticed how often he lauds privately-managed charter schools and how seldom he praises public schools, except when their staff has been fired. She writes:
Speaking of monitoring, Duncan’s Twitter feed is absolutely amazing. 90% of his links promote some commercial aspect of education reform. Here’s today’s prominent product placement:
“School models that don’t fit within traditional definitions are largely excluded from receiving E-Rate support. Florida Virtual School, the largest virtual school in the United States serving more than 148,000 students, uses a model built entirely around connected learning resulting in
a broadband tab of $53 million, yet the E-Rate only reimburses $5,237. Schools using blended learning approaches that “flip the classroom,” where students watch lectures online at home and use class time for interactive discussion, also do not receive full E-Rate support.”
Read more: http://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/education/317329-new-education-models-need-a-new-e-rate#ixzz2cbzyzhXm
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I don’t even think he has to go thru the revolving door from government work to the private sector, like so many of his staffers have. He’s promoting private sector education schemes while in his government job. It’s just shameless.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
“A reader follows Secretary of Education Arne Duncan’s Twitter feed (I do not; I do not monitor him)”
Baaaahahahaha!
Wonder who is paying Duncan to promote and advertise lousy programs?
Hey, let’s go easy on the guy: he’s a ventriloquist’s dummy who’s had everything he’s touched turn to s—.
He’s gotta do something to set himself up for when he’s finally shown the door.
Bill Clinton has reportedly earned over $200 million dollars since leaving the White House, payment for services rendered (NAFTA, Telecommunications Act of 1996, abolishing AFDC and repeal of Glass-Steagall, etc.)
Obama can probably expect double or more than that, especially since he’s such an “inspirational” figure. Given that, why shouldn’t Arne get his cut?
There is something very disturbing that Duncan doesn’t even try to disguise the corrupt, rotted core of his actions.
Maybe it’s the job of all cabinet officials promote the private sector while formally in public service positions. Secretaries of Treasury, Energy, Interior, Labor, Defense, Agriculture–are any of them vigorous advocates for the public sector and the public good? Treas Sec’y Paulson in 08 engineered trillion-dollar bailout of Wall St, none for homeowners, with Obama’s approval. It is possible to say that Broad-infatuated Duncan has vigorously brought the lagging Dept of Ed into line with the rest of the Cabinet, which has been promoting the private sector long before Duncan arrived. Because the constitutional arrangement makes “education” a state and local concern, Fed power and policy had significant but limited interventions in corporate marketing. Duncan’s shameless shilling for the private sector and Obama’s shameless endorsement of him fit this aggressive neoliberal age. Capture of public education for private profit is a key theater of what is perhaps an evolving “stealth coup” in the US to undermine the constitution.
Bill Gates’s Twitter feeds are trying to push and sell a Social Studies online learning curriculum, with computer of course, and teacher layoff notice. Disgusting.
But they all must have the same standardized outcomes. You cannot standardize ands individualize at the same time!
I still don’t get why he is Sec. of Education and wants to get rid of public education. He working for the PUBLIC
Also, do teachers have to be certified to teach at the Florida Virtual School? I have met someone that taught there and I don’t be that she has a teaching certificate.
clearly part of Duncan’s skillset, which he must define as part of being “college and career ready,” is the 21st century skill called “cut and paste.” Yeesh it is obvious he took that straight form a press release. Pathetic and lame– what a tool.
So have we witnessed the privatization of the federal government? He who runs the most adds on his government site, gets the best post term corporate appointment? Such cheap decadence. No Corporation Left Behind.
Diane said “A reader follows Secretary of Education Arne Duncan’s Twitter feed (I do not; I do not monitor him).”
andrewdavidmitchell and I picked up on your reference, Diane. You are hilarious. 🙂
After a long first workday back, I appreciate the giggle.
And I, too, do not follow him.
Florida Virtual School has been doing a lot of advertising. Wonder where the money for that comes from…
Advertising from virtual charters comes from your taxpayer dollars. Also campaign contributions. You pay, they profit.
________________________________ From: Diane Ravitch’s blog To: jrmint58@yahoo.com Sent: Wednesday, August 21, 2013 9:46 AM Subject: [New post] Advice from Your Secretary of Education
WordPress.com dianerav posted: “A reader follows Secretary of Education Arne Duncan’s Twitter feed (I do not; I do not monitor him). She noticed that he often promotes commercial, for-profit vendors. Others have noticed how often he lauds privately-managed charter schools and how seldom” Respond to this post by replying above this line New post on Diane Ravitch’s blog Advice from Your Secretary of Educationby dianerav A reader follows Secretary of Educati