The Education Wars: Open Mouth, Insert Foot

Arne Duncan admits it was a dumb thing to say about Hurricane Katrina being the best thing that ever happened to New Orleans schools, the city now being a hotbed for charters:

Education Secretary Arne Duncan apologized Tuesday for asserting that Hurricane Katrina was "the best thing that happened to the education system in New Orleans," calling the remark "a dumb thing to say."

...

Duncan said he was attempting to highlight that positive development. But he acknowledged Tuesday that the remark had backfired.

"I said it in a poor way, and I apologize for that," he told MSNBC. "It was a dumb thing to say. My point was a simple one -- that subsequent to that devastating, devastating tragedy, we've seen remarkable progress. And that school system has improved so rapidly it's been amazing to watch. And I just want to thank the teachers, the principals for their extraordinary commitment to the students there."

Of course he is still doing a ton of damage to public education without using his mouth.