Education Secretary urges students to start social movement

When U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan’s cross-country “Education Drives America” tour bus hit the road this fall, one of its stops was at what’s been called a crown jewel of teacher education programs.

Duncan and Dennis Van Roekel, president of the National Education Association, stepped off the bus in front of Visser Hall, home of The Teachers College at Emporia State, for a Sept. 18 town hall-style stopover. 

The education leaders spent 45 minutes taking questions from future teachers — Emporia State students either just beginning their teaching internships or currently doing their student teaching.

Duncan drew sustained applause when he told the students about the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program forgives student loans after time spent working in the public sector, which would include teaching.

“After 10 years of public service,” Duncan said, “the remaining debt is erased, forgiven.”