Webcast: Secretary Riley Hails “New Consensus” on Education

November 20, 2000

In a speech on the future of education, Secretary Riley said the recent elections are evidence of growing public agreement about education. He called it a “new consensus, built on partnership, not partisanship.” Citing the defeat of voucher initiatives in California and Michigan, the Secretary said he is pleased by “a consensus that moves away from the divisiveness of vouchers and toward support for partnership and investment in our public schools and helping families pay for college.” He noted that this is both American Education Week and International Education Week. “Sometimes people forget,” he said, “that an emphasis on international education helps strengthen other aspects of domestic education. For example, American math teachers are using videos to learn from successful teachers in high-performing countries. And many nations are learning about and emulating our higher education system.” Before his remarks, the Secretary joined the Education Minister of Denmark in signing an agreement to expand exchanges in vocational-technical education.

He expressed hope that “every school in the U.S. will use technology to share information with a school from another country. This would encourage children to learn a second language and invite teachers to work together to meet the challenges that arise in every classroom.”

He also announced an online “Teacher’s Guide to International Collaboration on the Internet.” The speech, press release, and guide are at http://www.ed.gov/PressReleases/11-2000/111600.html and http://www.ed.gov/Technology/guide/international/index.html An online discussion on technology and international collaboration can be found at http://www.ed.gov/teachersdiscuss/