Education Secretary Duncan: HBCUs as Relevant Today as Ever: U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan made his first official visit to Howard University Thursday to discuss the role historically Black colleges and universities must continue to play in preparing teachers to educate the nation’s increasingly diverse student body.
The visit to the Howard University Middle School of Mathematics and Science (MS)2 came on the heels of a promise Duncan made earlier this month on the nationally syndicated Tom Joyner Morning Show to visit a few of the nation’s HBCUs.
Joined by radio host Tom Joyner and Howard’s president, Dr. Sidney Ribeau, Duncan saw the highly trained middle school teachers and students in action. Launched in 2005, the middle school offers a rigorous curriculum to prepare students, many from low-income backgrounds, for careers in math, science and engineering.
HBCUs have a huge role to play in developing the teachers for the next generation, said Duncan. “Once students get into college, HBCUs have a unique ability to nurture and provide support to students who may need some extra help. Seeing Howard’s commitment, not just at the higher education level but at the middle school level, is phenomenal.”
