Have a School System Beyond Repair? You Need a Major Hurricane

That seems to be what Education Secretary Arne Duncan is suggesting:

Education Secretary Arne Duncan called Hurricane Katrina “the best thing that happened to the education system in New Orleans” because it forced the community to take steps to improve low-performing public schools, according to excerpts from a television interview made public Friday.

Duncan’s interview on “Washington Watch With Roland Martin” was scheduled to air Sunday on TV One.

The excerpts quoted an exchange between Duncan and Martin about the effect of the 2005 hurricane on the city’s schools.

Martin was quoted as saying: “What’s amazing is New Orleans was devastated because of Hurricane Katrina, but because everything was wiped out, in essence, you are building from ground zero to change the dynamics of education in that city.”

Duncan was quoted as replying: “It’s a fascinating one. I spent a lot of time in New Orleans, and this is a tough thing to say, but let me be really honest. I think the best thing that happened to the education system in New Orleans was Hurricane Katrina.

Now you know the only thing that's saving Duncan from a public flogging is the fact he's a liberal Democrat. If any Republican had suggested that something good came out of Katrina the outrage police on the left would have beaten him beyond recognition.

The city was a disaster and had been for decades (if not centuries). Wiping it out and starting over was just about the only way to fix it.

And now look - their team is in the Super Bowl.