Education secretary's final speech focuses on gun control, cut in incarceration of nonviolent criminals

Arne Duncan delivered his final speech today as U.S. Secretary of Education after serving in the position for the past seven years. Part of Duncan’s speech was devoted to the ongoing need to keep children safe from gun violence, and he expressed his disappointment in Congress for failing to address the issue.

Arne Duncan gives last speech as education secretary https://t.co/W6VRh2bdS1 pic.twitter.com/GpZjQ75jN4

— FOX 32 News (@fox32news) December 30, 2015

President Obama, who quietly commuted the sentences of nearly 100 felons before taking off for his family vacation in Hawaii, has long conflated education and incarceration, suggesting that the money saved by releasing prisoners could be redirected to educational reforms.

You might remember back in July, when the president’s laser focus was trained on criminal justice reform. If nonviolent offenders were released from prison, he tweeted, the $80 billion saved could pay for universal pre-K, double the salary of every high school teacher, and eliminate tuition at every public college and university in America.

Duncan was obviously on board, repeating the president’s wish list on his way out the door.

"We have to look into the mirror and say: 'We are perpetuating the school-to-prison pipeline'" – @arneduncan. #UNCFK12

— UNCF (@UNCF) December 30, 2015

Arne Duncan: If we stopped locking up 50% of non-violent offenders, that would free up billions of dollars for teacher bonuses

— Mitch Dudek (@mitchdudek) December 30, 2015

https://twitter.com/MsPackyetti/status/682253076934332416

Of course, “nonviolent” is the critical variable there, and Duncan also chose to speak on guns and gun control.

Arne Duncan calls for addressing gun violence in final speech as education secretary https://t.co/Uc0cv9jWZy

— Post Education (@PostSchools) December 30, 2015

… If young people “honestly don’t believe in their heart that they are going to live past 23, what does that do to their decision making?” he asked.

Duncan also chided Congress for failing to pass even basic gun-restriction legislation—saying that lawmakers’ are out of step with public opinion.

Even though the push to combat gun violence probably isn’t the policy Duncan will be best remembered for, it’s hardly a new area of interest for him. He’s been an outspoken advocate on this issue since his time as superintendent of Chicago Public schools. He was even named the most “anti-gun” member of President Barack Obama’s cabinet by the National Rifle Association.

Duncan even spoke briefly on the complementary nature of the Defense Department and the Education Department.

"As a nation, a strong military is our best defense, but our best offense is education." – Sec. Arne Duncan

— Adam Smith (@AdamJSmithGA) December 30, 2015

Finally, Duncan argued that opportunity is unevenly distributed in America. At least he didn’t blame climate change, although we suspect “unfettered” capitalism has a lot to do with it.

In his final speech as Secretary of Education, @arneduncan notes “In our nation, talent is much more evenly distributed than opportunity."

— JRLADetroit (@JRLADetroit) December 30, 2015

… @arneduncan notes "If we as adults will commit to delivering opportunities fairly, honestly & openly, our kids will do well.”

— JRLADetroit (@JRLADetroit) December 30, 2015

Arne Duncan: I am going to be unemployed in two days so I should start handing out resumes – says is not planning to run for public office

— Mitch Dudek (@mitchdudek) December 30, 2015

Not running for mayor of Chicago, then?